AN: I realized something whilst writing this chapter. Bado's name is very comical isnt it? Its like I have identified him as the bad guy, and just added an O. 'The dude is bad-o' Well, I chose the name from a Swahili baby name site. And it means 'Not ready, not yet' which I felt suited him. For the sake of your enjoyment, you can continue calling him Bad-o. I think the name is pronounced with an extended 'A' though. So Baado. Or something like that. :) Now he is a sheep.
I've also decided to not update my chapters till there are at least 200 views on each chapter. May seem a little mean, but I noticed that the popularity of multi-chaptered story's decrease when it is updated to quickly. I want to give you all change to read each chapter at your own pace. Then you'll be excited when the next one is uploaded :D
...When the soft knock on the office door bought an end to their interview, Spock had already made his decision.
When Uhura stood to leave, Spock stepped ahead of her to open the door. Due to the minimal space inside the office, if he had not moved to allow her to stand next to his seat as the door opened, she would be pushed against the far wall.
Pike and Bado stood on the other side of the doorway. Pike's expression was curious, his head tilted slightly in question. Spock gave the smallest of nods, confirming the thought inside Pike's mind. The older man gave Bado's turned frame a quick sympathetic glance before holding out his arm for Uhura.
"Shall we retire to the canteen downstairs Miss Uhura? I for one would love a glass of iced tea" Uhura laughed and wrapped her hand around the offered elbow. As they moved away and Spock stepped back to allow Bado into the small office, she glanced over her shoulder, smiling softly in farewell. Spock tilted his head in acknowledgement.
When he turned back towards the small office, Bado was already seated in Uhura's vacated chair.
There was a slight restlessness about him. He seemed very eager, which was admirable, yet Spock sensed the briefest traces of a negative emotion. Frustration perhaps? It was possible that the young man was apprehensive about his interview, given the amount of time he had spent with Uhura.
Closing the door softly, Spock returned to his seat and picked up his PADD, moving through folders until he found Bado's information. He had read each application before he had left the academy that morning, as such was confidentially familiar with all relevant details. Using his finger to scroll through each of the pages, Spock suddenly stilled and frowned.
Bado's application information had changed. His list of qualifications had lengthened...as well as the amount of previous experience working within xenolinguistics. This was most misleading. It was not possible he had missed these details or skipped through certain parts of the application when he had received the documents. He did not make mistakes.
"Is there a problem Commander?" Bado asked. Spock raised his eyes to the other man. His posture was very relaxed, back bent forwards as he rested his elbows on his knees. This shortened the distance between them. Leaning down slightly to place his PADD on top of his duffel bag, Spock sat himself upright, one leg folded over the other.
"Before we begin, do you have any questions?" He asked. Bado leant back in his seat and shook his head.
"None sir"
"Very well. Should you receive the available position at Star Fleet academy, what qualities do you have that would be beneficial to your future as a Xenolinguistic?"
Bado let out a thoughtful sigh.
"I have a very extensive knowledge of eight different dialects. I know from accessing the Star Fleet prospectus that five of those languages are required by default before you can progress onto an Advanced course" Bado said. Spock nodded, this he already knew.
"May I inquire to which languages these are?"
"Of course. I am fluent in Klingon, Romulan, Cardassian, Bajoran, and Ferengi. Although I am not as adept, I consider myself to be quite capable with Adorian, Tellaritian, and Vulcan"
Spock nodded. Knowledge of this languages were exemplary. He sat patiently, waiting for Bado to continue. When he did not, Spock leant forwards slightly, netting his fingers together over one knee.
"Are their any languages that are not available on the syllabus that you wish to learn?" He asked the question to compare the difference in enthusiasm between the two students.
Bado seemed slightly taken aback, and his face contorted with a very quick and unnameable emotion. Spock surmised he could almost hear other man's thoughts organizing themselves inside his mind.
Bado's eyes narrowed slightly, and he straightened his back.
"Should to opportunity arise, there are several languages I would like to learn. I had thought that asking for additional and personal assistance from a Star Fleet official would be a little rude. Given that you are the most experienced xenolinguistic individual at the academy, you would be the one giving that extra help"
Spock nodded, agreeing to both statements. When Uhura had expressed her desire to learn languages that were not available within the present curriculum, she had not made comment on who would be teaching them. He had been under the impression that she would learn these languages in her free time. She had not expressed a desire for any personal tutelage. Bado's observation was correct however. Should a student come to him asking for assistance, he would assess their progress and give extra help if needed. He voiced this thought.
"Should extra assistance be needed, I would be the most logical choice" He confirmed.
Bado became silent. His dark eyes calculating. After a forty eight second interval, he sat himself up right, hands placed upon his thighs, his posture showing the same frustration that he had been portraying when the conversation had begun.
Spock had never considering himself adept to identifying the emotional presumptions that came with reading body language. He could however, recognize mental instability.
Bado was portraying all the symptoms of human Cyclothymia. The erratic shifts is in his mental state were obvious, even to Spock. He made no comment on his observation.
Had he conducted Bado's interview before Uhura's, the man's behavior would have made his selection of the two candidates a lot easier. Star Fleet cadets were required by law to have a complete and medically approved mental analysis. For obvious reasons, those where were shown to be have mental adequacy would be considered a risk to both themselves to the academy. Human behavior could be manipulated through training and discipline. Metal instability could not.
Spock momentarily wondered why the other man's application had not had any record of this new observation. However, given the fact that that application had been modified by unknown means since his arrival in Africa – something that he would be thoroughly investigating – he would not be relying on any of the information within the document.
He wished to discuss his finding with Commander Pike. Had Bado excused himself from the room during the time he was interviewing Uhura, it would give him the evidence he required.
There were still 6 minutes and thirty eight seconds left before their interview reached the standard twenty minute completion. Given that, Spock thought it would be illogical to continue with his questions. He had already made the decision to give the available position to Uhura.
Should Bado receive the correct medical assistance to help control his mental condition, Spock did not see any reason why he should not be able to apply and be accepted into the Academy during the next academic year.
"I have no further questions at this time. I shall be assessing both yours and Miss Uhura's interview and applications with Commander Pike. You shall know my decision by 1830 this evening" Spock said. Without saying anything else, he stood. Lifting his duffel bag and PADD from the ground. He made sure he put the portable device inside the bag, closing it securely.
If Bado was shocked at his abrupt ending of the interview, he made no comment. He climbed to his feet and nodded.
"Very well Commander. I shall be waiting expectantly for your decision"
Pike and Uhura were not in the conference room when Spock and Bado exited the small office. Recalling Pike's earlier comment of desiring subsistence, Spock made is way towards the buildings canteen, which was, according to Bado, situated a floor below. The younger man offered to escort him to the area.
They stood silently side by side as they waiting for the elevator to arrive on their floor. The irritation he had sensed from the younger man was gone, his earlier relaxed and polite posture returning. When they stepped into the elevator, Bado pressed the required floor number and stood with his arms folded behind his back.
He attempted to initiate conversation as the lift lowered. Spock responded with single word answers and nods. His mind was calculating the exact amount of technical familiarity a person would need to be able to hack into the Star Fleets database and change private records. He had designed the necessary fire walls himself. To be able to bypass them would be a very impressive, if highly illegal, accomplishment.
The elevator announced they had arrived at their destination, and the doors opened.
Commander Pike and Uhura stood on the other side. She seemed to be laughing at a comment that the commander have previously made, this deduced from the look of amused satisfaction that covered the older man's face. Pike looked up as the doors opened, and smiled in welcome at the two men.
"All finished Spock?" He asked. Spock nodded and moved to the side slightly so Bado could vacate the elevator before him. The two officials stood opposite the two students. As was usual. Pike spoke on both of their behalves.
"Right then. As you already know Miss Uhura, you both need to be back here at 1800. Spock shall them inform you to who it is that will be joining us at Star Fleet this year. He will then detail everything you will need to know. Like I said before, don't feel bad if your not chosen. You are more than welcome, and I recommend it, to apply for a position next year" Chris said. The two students nodded in understanding.
"Mr Bado, or is it Kuvuli?" Pike asked. Whilst he was not comfortable with it, Spock knew that many humans preferred to be refereed to by their first names.
"Bado is fine sir" The man responded. Pike nodded and smiled.
"I know that Miss Uhura is local to the area. So she can go home whilst you wait. Do you need a lift somewhere? We'll be more than happy to drop you home instead of making you wait for a shuttle" Bado shook his head, and gestured vaguely to his left.
"No sir. I live in Nairobi. Which is several kilometres away but I have my own transport" Bado said. Pike grinned and clapped his hand firmly on the Bado's shoulder.
"Good man. We shall see you back here then at 1800"
With nothing else left to say, the two officials stepped back into the elevator. Pike pressed the button for the ground floor. As the doors closed, Spock observed the two students. Bado had already turned away, heading towards the canteen. Uhura stayed where she was, and waved hand politely in farewell. Pike left eye shut and opened quickly in a facial gesture that Spock knew was called a 'wink'. Spock simply tilted his head.
The doors closed, and the elevator began its short decent. Pike turned towards his companion, his arms crossed over his chest.
"Well?" He asked.
"My decision has not been altered" Spock told him. Pike let out a deliberating sound, and glanced absently at the small numbered bar above the elevator doors.
"What did you make of Mr Bado?" He asked. Spock glanced at him.
"If you are referring to his appearance, I found him to be suitably attired"
"Well, that's nice to know, but I meant his personality. When you and Miss Uhura were in the office, I noticed there was something a little...unusual about him. Now don't get me wrong, he seems a nice enough kid but..." Pike let his sentence fade and shrugged his shoulders.
"It is my deduction that Mr Bado is suffering from Cyclothymia. His mental state during our interview was erratic" Spock said. Pike's eyebrows shot up.
"Cyclo...what now?" He asked in evident confusion.
"Cyclothymia. Also known as Cyclothymic Disorder. Its is a mental condition, a mood disorder, which is characterized by numerous hypomanic disturbances such as mild depression, agitation and anger" Spock explained. Pike hummed in thought and angled his head slight.
"So a watered down version of Bipolar?" He asked.
"Affirmative. The condition is however, a rarer diagnosis in humans" Was his response. Pike made a small noise in the back of his throat and angled his gaze to stare at his companion is slight worry.
"So what your saying is Bado shows symptoms of having mental instability?"
Spock nodded, agreeing with the Commanders statemnt.
"Correct"
Pike sighed and ran one hand through his hair in a distracted manor.
"Damn...I know something was up but..." Letting his sentence trail off, Pike simply sighed.
The doors opened, and the two men stepped out. They passsed Officer Amasi, who was stood next to the main doors. When they approached, he told them that a vehicle was waiting for them to take them to the hotel they had been booked into for the duration of their visit.
When he had been informed of this, Spock had stated that the rooms were not needed, as he did not think they would be in the country for more then a day. He had relented when a young cadet at the academy, who was of African decent, had told him that the country was currently in the middle of weather anomaly he had called 'the rainy season'. During this time the weather altered dramatically. In the space of an hour the climate could change from its native heat to a thunder storm.
As he and Commander Pike left the cool interior of the building, Spock noticed that the cadets assumption had been right. The sky had darkened considerably during the forty eight minutes they had been inside. There was a row of dark clouds on the horizon, promising the eventuality of a downpour.
Pike noticed this too, and glanced up at the sky with more human annoyance.
"We wont be able to fly in that" He said, more to himself than the men around him. Spock said nothing.
The driver of their vehicle, Spock noted him as the same man who had driven them from the shuttle bay, was waiting patiently in the drivers seat. He kept glancing up at the approaching clouds in concern.
Letting out a small sigh, Pike swung himself into the drivers seat. Spock took his place behind him, setting his duffel on his lap instead of on the seat next to him. He would wait until he and the Commander were in a more private area before he informed him of the change of Bado's records. If his assumptions were correct, which they usually were, Bado had committed a rather serious crime. Hacking into federation software was punishable by deportation to a military planet.
He would need to assess each available piece on information he had before he would bring this to the attention of Star Fleet.
In front of him, Pike's face contorted to a look of annoyance and glared at the bars above the open topped vehicle.
"I really hope these things come with a roof..."