AN: A Day. I have been gone for less that 24 four hours! That's only 1440 minutes! And what greets me when I come back? 13 reviews and 290 views on the chapter I uploaded 10 minutes before I left. Ugh...not only that, you sent a search party to the Class M planet and dragged me back to Star Fleet. Although admittedly, when I read that PM, I laughed so hard my drink came out my nose. Fun times.
On that same topic, you guys are awesome. The positive feedback I got for chapter seven was outstanding. When I wrote it then read it back, it was like staring at a wall of dull.
In response to a review, I do not have a BETA tester. Although I have asked for one several times on Tumblr. Not much I can do if no one responds :P And besides, my dictionary is set to English (UK). I know fanfiction uses the standard American. Do you know how hard it is to remember to remove 'u's from words? It's like trying to head butt my way past the massive wall built by years of English education. X)
As you've all been so awesome, this chapter is ridiculously long. Please enjoy :D
And reminding again: I have pictures of Bado and M'Umbha on my profile. In case you want to know what those two darlings look like :D (In this story anyway)
WARNING: Some bad language towards the end of the chapter.
With the water temperate set to the highest possible setting, Spock allowed himself a short moment of mediation. The heavy pulse setting of the shower head beat against his bare shoulders. Running in mud tinted droplets down his back to pool at his feet.
His eyes were closed. Breath even and deep.
His primary senses were oblivious to the heat and steam around him. He did not feel the near scolding pressure beating against his skin, nor the heavy dampness of the condensed air assaulting his respiratory system. The en-suite shower in his assigned hotel room was very small. The shower cubicle itself a quarter circular compartment build onto the tile wall.
With the glass door closed, the small chamber very quickly filled with a thick mist. It was not the most ideal of environments to conduct a temporary moment of mediation, yet the introspection was only meant to brief.
Spock needed to rid himself with the emotions that seemed reluctant to leave his system. When Uhura had lost consciousness, her emotions had disappeared. He had expected his own to return to normal when their link had been severed.
This had not been the case.
When Commander Pike had relieved him and told him to take a shower, Spock had found himself reluctant to leave. The small tugging feeling on concern seemingly becoming dominant over his ability to follow orders. He had not wanted to leave Uhura.
He had thought this refusal was based on the fact his emotions were still linked in some way to hers, regardless to her lethargic condition. He had purposefully focused on the location the link to her mind had been when they had touched, finding nothing but a small emptiness. They were not connected in anyway.
Having only one plausible conclusion to his concerns, Spock surmised he was genuinely worried about the woman's physical health. His reluctance to leave her side was a feeling that came from the human part of his genetics. A worry that humans portrayed when an individual close to them became hurt of mentally weak. He had witnessed this phenomena on several occasions, when members of Star Fleet were injured during the line of duty.
Close companions and relatives of those individuals had refused to leave the injured persons side, even when the said injury's were minor. Spock had always felt this emotional attachment was unnecessary. The injured party would benefit more from professional medical assistance rather than comforting words and the gift of terrean fruit.
This discovery was not a positive one. He had excused himself from the reception without glancing at the limp female body lying eighteen inches away from him. Choosing to take the stairs instead of the more convenient and quicker elevator, Spock had forced himself to evaluate and suppress each of the human-like emotions as he had made his way to his room.
He spent thirty eight minutes and twenty fours seconds in the shower. Twenty eight minutes and twenty four seconds longer then his usual assigned cleansing time. Bringing himself slowly out of his trance with calculated breaths, Spock was somewhat relieved to discover his metal state was once again stabilised. His concern for Uhura had dissipated, now replaced with the customary detached curious observation he usual felt when faced with an injured human.
Satisfied with this result, he lifted his hand to turn off the shower when he frowned, noticing with some annoyance that he had not yet cleansed himself. His hands were still coated with watery brown rivulets, the tips of his fingernails stained to a deep brown.
He spent another five minutes inside the shower cubicle. Taking great care of ridding himself of the muddy substance.
When he was once more suitably presented, nearly fifty minutes of time had passed. As such, when the elevator doors opened and he stepped out into the reception, he was not surprised to see the brightly lit lobby filled with the brightly coloured uniforms of African medical personal.
Stepping out of the elevator, Spock looked for the deep grey uniform that would identify Commander Pike. Locating him stood next to the semi transparent wall that separated the reception from the bar, Spock made his way towards him.
Pike seemed to be offering comfort to the short African woman who stood beside him. Even from a distance, Spock could see her eyes were bloodshot and red rimmed, a sign that she had been crying. He knew of only one reason why this woman would be upset to this extent, she was a relative of Miss Uhura's. As he approached, the two turned towards him. Spock's hypothesis was proved correct as the woman's deep set brown eyes focused on him. It would seemed that Uhura had inherited her eyes from this woman. She was her mother.
"And here he is now. M'Umbha this is Commander Spock. The man who saved your daughter" Pike announced. Spock nodded in polite greeting to the woman as she turned fully to observe him. Her diminutive height forcing her neck to bend. He turned his head slightly towards Pike, intended on correcting his earlier statement. He had merely been preforming his duty of a representative of Star Fleet. He opened his mouth to say this, when he was abruptly forced to take a steadying step backwards.
Uhura's mother had quite literally thrown herself at him. Her arms were wrapped tightly around his neck, face buried into the side of his neck. Due to the differences in their heights, her feet were hanging approximately four inches off the ground. This meant her entire weight was balancing on his neck.
Spock was perplexed. Since his arrival on Earth five years previously, no human – male or female- had initiated contact with him to this extent. He was almost used to the small physical gestures human men portrayed to show satisfaction. He was also familiar with the physically contact women initiated when attempting to seduced him. He had not once been embraced in such a way. He was at a loss with what to do.
Lowering himself slightly until Mrs Uhura's feet once again resting on the ground (and her weight was not as unbalanced against his neck) Spock glanced at Pike for assistance. The older man seemed to be holding in laughter, with some difficulty as he purposefully turned away to hide his wide smile.
His arms hung at his sides, half raised as if undecided what to do. He knew to some extent that Mrs Uhura was showing her gratitude for his actions earlier that night. He knew this, but he was still uncomfortable.
It seemed that the thought had only just crossed his mind when she unwound her arms, only to replace them with her hands on either side of his face.
"Thank you" She said softly. Her eyes were once again filled with tears. The feel of her bare skin against him did not open the same intense telepathic connection he had experienced with the younger Uhura, yet he could still feel the instability of her emotions through that touch.
Carefully, Spock reached up and placed his hands on her arms, pulling her away from him.
"Your gratitude is welcomed Mrs Uhura" He said slowly. M'Umbha nodded and gave a watery smile. She took a step back, removing her hands. She slowly raised her right hand to remove the wetness around her eyes.
"I'm sorry Commander Spock. I know Vulcan's do not like physical contact...its just...you saved my baby girls life" M'Umbha said, her voice shaking slightly. Unsure how to respond, Spock settled for titling his head in understanding. In an attempt to regain his composure, Spock turned towards Pike.
"Commander, may I enquire to the situation?" He asked. Pike cleared his throat and turned back towards him.
"Uhura has been taken to the towns main hospital. Were lucky the weather seems to have calmed down. Ive had the local police start a search for Bado but...in this rain, it will be like looking for a needle in a haystack" Pike said, finishing his sentence with a sigh.
"They need to check the local mechanics" M'Umbha said. The two men turned towards her.
"His father, Msitu, owns the shuttle repair shop opposite the Moonlight Restaurant. I've seen him there a few times...as he's on foot that's the first place id think he'd go" She said. She was absently chewing on one of her thumb nails looking thoughtful.
"I'm sorry Commanders...I was so preoccupied with Nyota I didn't even think about where that little ass hole had gone"
Pike stepped closer to her and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"Don't worry about it sweetheart. You've got enough on your plate. But any information you can give us will help us locate 'that little ass hole' a lot sooner" He laughed. M'Umbha smiled weakly, before taking a deep breath.
Spock knew that Pike considered Bado's arrest a personal issue. If Bado had not attempted to assault a member of the federation, they would not take any further action with attempting to locate him. They would leave that to the local authorities.
"OK...I don't know the exact house number, but I know he lives near Wilson Airport – heading towards the Langata area. In a renovated farm house" M'Umbha said. Pike nodded and pulled his PADD out from where he had been balancing it under his armpit. His fingers moved across the screen for a moment, before a high pitched ring announced a message had been sent.
"Got it. Just sent that to the officers patrolling the outskirts of town. Hopefully Bado will be behind bars by the time we set out for San Francisco tomorrow morning" Pike smiled. He then turned slightly to the other man.
"M'Umbha has offered to drive us to the hospital to visit Uhura. You should come with us Spock. You didn't have time to tell Uhura the good news" He said. M'Umbha quickly glanced between the two men.
"Good news? What good news?" She asked. Pike gestured for Spock to continue the conversation.
"After I conducted Miss Uhura's interview this morning, I made the logical decision to award the last available position at Star Fleet to you daughter. She will make an exemplary addition to the academy" He replied. M'Umbha looked up at him for a moment before letting out a high pitched noises, her hands clapping together with excitement.
"Oh that's wonderful! She will be so happy!" She exclaimed. Pike laughed in amusement at her enthusiasm.
"Well, I certainly hope so. Now, we should get going before the rain decides to start up again. Are you going to be warm enough in that?" Pike asked. In the progress of turning towards the doorway Spock paused, glancing back at the woman's attire.
She was not dressed appropriately for the weather. A simple dress made from several layers of red fabric. Spock estimated this was due to her leaving her place of residence immediately after receiving Commander Pike's message. Her mindset would not have been stable enough to react to the situation logically, and clothe her self in something that was more suitable.
"I'll be fine. This is not my first summer shower you know" M'Umbha laughed. She brushed past both Pike and Spock and headed towards the doorway, before halting and glancing over her shoulder.
"Shall we?"
"FUCKING BITCH!" The loud frustrated scream was accompanied by a crash. Followed almost immediately by a large heavy metal object flying through the dark tinted glass window of the Moonlight Restaurant.
The front door of the establishment hung wide open, torn from its mechanical hinges by a great forced. A metal cylinder, one designed to divert tragic down a one day street lay dented and forgotten on the ground.
No alarms broke through the now faint patterning of the nights rain, no lights flashed and alerted those sleeping inside the surrounded buildings that there was a problem.
Inside the bistro, a dark shadow paced. His body shaking with barely suppressed anger. His movements were fast an uncoordinated. On occasion he would stop his determined pacing, to stare around the dark restaurant. Then he would let out a yell, his anger rekindled by an unknown force and lash out at any furniture close to him.
This was no supposed to happen!
Bado mentally fumed. His hands clenched into tight fists, his knuckles white against the strained dark skin. He halted his hurried steps to glare with a dark fury towards the distant sound of sirens.
It had been an accident. That was what they were supposed to think. She lost her footing, and slipped. A simple but tragic accident.
He had made sure she had fallen. Stood over her as she had disappeared into the shadows below the hill.
There had even been a slim chance that she would survive. The water level beneath the cliff should have reached a depth of at least eight feet by that point. The water would have cushion her fall. Provided she knew how to swim, she would be able to save her self. If she didn't, then that was all the proof Star Fleet should need to know she was not suitable.
He had had no issue with Nyota Uhura before that day. He had known she was also studying xenolinguistics. She had been in many of his linguistics classes at the Institute of Advanced Mathematics. He had not been surprised to see she was also competing for the available position at the academy. He recalled being genuinely please for her...had wished her luck.
Then she had greeted the Vulcan by name.
Was she that desperate for attention she would use her sexuality and previous knowledge of the alien to get what she wanted?
Bado had become furious. He had not expected that of her. She was an outstanding student. He had considered courting her at some point. She was beautiful in her own way. But to basically lay on the table and spread her legs for that green blooded bastard. She was a whore.
Her behaviour told him she was not suitable for the academy. She did not deserve that position. It was his duty as a future representative of the Federation to remove her from their records. He had hacked into Star Fleets database when the Commander had been interviewing her. It had not been an easy task. Whomever had designed the firewalls designed to prevent intruders such as himself was a very impressive individual. Bado had looked forward to meeting them. Once he had bypassed the firewalls, changing his details had been easy.
He did not know what information was in Uhura's application form. Given her promiscuous display, it did not matter. The Vulcan did not seem the type to be deferred by sexual advances. When he had returned to the conference room, they had not yet emerged from the small office. It had taken a subtle suggestion to the other commander, Pike, to put a halt to their meeting.
His interview had not gone as planned. It was brief. He was sure Spock had noticed the change in his application, but as he had not said anything Bado was sure the blame could not be pointed towards himself.
When he had left the office, he knew he had not impressed the other man. Something had to be done about the competition. If Uhura was taken out of the race, they would have no choice but accept him.
He had felt an overwhelming sense of guilt when he had spotted her struggling through the rain towards the hotel. He had felt sorry for her. Had almost passed her without following through with his plan. Then he had become angry. How fucking stupid was this woman!? She could barely stand in the wind and yet she was outside wearing nothing protective? Just an over sized coat thait was acting more as a parachute then a cover-all.
He had intended on running into her, hoping the bumper of his car would send her far enough down the hill that she would leave no sign of struggle. But then the bitch had jumped out of the way.
Infuriated, Bado had left his vehicle. Fully intending on breaking one of her legs to make sure she couldn't get back up. But then gravity decided to do his work for him, and she had fallen from view.
It was perfect.
He would wait in the hotel until the Commanders realised she wasn't coming. Then, when the Vulcan told him that he had been accepted through default, he would offer to search for her – leading them away from the hillside if they accompanied him.
His plan was flawless.
Then things had gone very wrong. The pointy eared son of a bitch had gone looking for her. He and Pike had followed. When they saw the Vulcan leap from view, had heard her echoing screams on the wind, Bado knew he had fucked up. He had to get out of there.
Pike had followed him. Bado had the upper hand, he knew the area. Even in the darkness he could make his way around without difficulty.
He hadn't wanted to assault the man, but he had given him no choice. He could not allow them to catch him. He still had work to do.
A loud wail tore him from his thoughts. Startled, Bado spun on his heal towards the noise, and threw himself onto the ground when the flashing lights on an Ambulance tore past the front of the restaurant.
She was in that Ambulance. He had no doubt of that. It meant she was alive.
Letting out a deep snarl, Bado pushed himself to his feet, stomping his way to the back of bistro. Without halting his stride, he kicked down the wooden door that bared his entrance into the managers office.
Without turning on the lights, he rounded the desk and sat himself down heavily on the avaiable seat – switching on the desktop computer as he did so.
His fingers flew across the holographic keypad.
With the blue glow of the computer screen staining his skin to a midnight blue, Bado glared with satisfaction at the page that appeared before him. His finger hit a key harshly, confirming his purchase.
When Nyota Uhura arrived at Star Fleet in three months, he would be right there waiting for her.
Uhura hurt.
Her bones felt as though they had been replaced with lead. Her skin felt strange. A perplexing combination of needle like pressure and a dull pulsing ache.
It was an interesting to say the least.
She was aware she was in hospital. The repetitive and slight irritating bleep of a monitor screen told her as much.
It took her a few seconds of deep thought to remember why.
Her brain did not seemed to want to work with her. She tried pressing into her memories, trying recall the last few hours of her life that would help her remember how she came to be lying on a hospital bed.
Her brain ached in response. Stubbornly refusing to allow her to think.
Uhura frowned. Or at least, she thought she frowned. The muscles on her face felt like that had been carved from rock.
Rock?
She had hit a rock. Or rather, she had bounced off one. Why? Ignoring the pain that flared up, Uhura focused on that memory. She had fallen...fallen a very long way. She had been cold. Scared. No, terrified.
So terrified her eyes filled with tears, warm against her face. They fell down her cheeks. She did not feel the cool hand brushing those tears away, nor hear the soft shushing sounds coming from above her.
She had to concentrate.
She had fallen down a hill. That was embarrassing. What kind of a woman fell down a hill?
I was pushed.
Her heart rate increased, and there were voiced talking around her. Uhura ignored them. She had been pushed...? No...she had jumped out of the way, and had slipped.
Jumped out of the way of what though?
A car.
Ah. Yes, that was it. She had nearly been hit by a car. It had burnt her leg. And then the miniature river had pushed her down the hill. That was when she had bounced off the rock. Her hip. She had hurt her hip too.
She could remember falling. Not being able to stop. She should have been able to slow herself down.
But she had.
She's stopped falling before she had gone over the cliff.
Why?
He saved me.
Uhura frowned once more. A hand had caught her. A pale hand. Who's hand was that? She forced herself to think.
Spock.
Her heart began to beat quickly, that strange needle like pain increasing. Her brain announced its displeasure by attempting to break its way from her skull.
Uhura groaned, and nearly whimpered at the raw pain that vocal sound inflicted on her throat.
She desperately needed a drink.
The voices around her became louder. Becoming more understandable. Words rather than distant rumbles.
Uhura tried to reach out to them. The cotton wool like haze holding her immobile lifted, and the world around her returned with a loud whoosh.
The groan that emerged from her lips was embarrassing.
A warm hand landed on her shoulder, applying a gentle pressure that told her to remain still. Uhura tried to bat it away, her own hand flopping uselessly at her side. She didn't want to stay still. She wanted to be in control of her body again. She wanted the heaviness to disappear.
She wanted a drink.
Scrunching up her face as much as her numb muscles would allow, Uhura forced her eyes to open. And instantly shut them again as a harsh light assaulted the tender orbs.
There was some movement around her, and the harsh light pushing through her eyelids dimmed. Thankful, Uhura carefully peeked one open, when that seemed to work, she opened the other. Blinking rapidly to try and focus the blurred mess of colours that met her.
Three figures stood over her. One on each side of her bed, and the other close the the door. She focused on the most colourful blur first.
Her mothers familiar features swam into view, a wide brilliant smile covering her face.
"Mama?" She whispered, the sound emerging as a whispered croak. Her mother leant down to rub her cheek softly against her own. The warm hand on her shoulder disappeared.
"Mtoto wangu maskini..." her mother whispered, her hand reaching up to cup her daughters cheek. Uhura smiled softly, and vary carefully raised her limp hand to wrap her fingers around her mothers.
"I'm all right Mama" She said, wincing at the sandpaper like feel of her throat. Her mother stood up and traced her finger lovingly down Uhura's nose. She then abruptly turned and crossed to the small water dispenser near the door, filling a plastic cup with the liquid Uhura so desperately wanted.
Crossing back to the hospital bed, she placed the cup and a side table and attempted to thread her arm under Uhura's back so she could sit her upright and let her drink at the same time. This proved to be a little bit of a problem, as she could no longer reach around herself to pick up the cup.
Another warm arm slid around her back, from the other side of the bed. Uhura flopped her head sideways to identify the new person.
The calm, unrevealing eyes of Commander Spock stared back at her.
Her mouth popped open in surprise. Why was he in her hospital room?
She didn't get change to ponder her question, for she found herself being pulled into a sitting position, her feet sliding along the bed as she was forcibly sat up, then rested against the cushioned head board behind her.
His job done, Spock released her and stepped away from her bed, his hands clasped behind his back.
Her mother regained her full attention when she sat carefully on the available space on the mattress, tilting the cup carefully to her lips. Uhura took a long appreciative sip, the cold liquid sliding down her throat and cooling the sharp ache. She was careful not to spill any.
She was not about to sit and dribble in front of a member of the Federation. Particularly one that had saved her life.
The shape on the other side of the room stepped forwards, identifying itself as Commander Pike.
"How are you feeling?" He asked softly. He seemed genuinely worried about her. Uhura was slightly warmed by that. He was a good man...it was a shame she would not be able to work with him. After the events of that night, both the commanders would most probably think she was not worth all the trouble they had faced. She certainly wouldn't blame them...yet she felt her abused throat constricting with tears she would not shed.
"I'm all right Commander" Uhura replied quietly. Pike stepped closer to the bed and raised an eye brow.
"And how are you really feeling?" He asked, his tone teasing. Uhura glanced at him and found herself smiling.
"Like I was sat on by a heard of elephants" She replied woefully. Pike let out a small bark of laughter.
"Thata girl. You don't need to act professional. If you want to leap out of bed and scream at the top of your lungs, you do that. I may just join you. Its good for you you know" Pike said. Uhura let out a small surprised laugh.
M'Umbha scowled at older man disapprovingly.
"Christopher, please refrain from telling my daughter to back flip out of bed when she is injured" She sulked. Pike grinned and shrugged his shoulders apologetically. Uhura watched the interaction with confused amusement. Christopher? When had her mother become on first name basis with the Commander?
From his silent spot next to the window, Spock cleared his throat. Or gave the Vulcan equivalent. Either way, the three in the room turned to him.
"Commander, perhaps it is best to inform Miss Uhura why we are here so she may attain the rest she needs?" He said. Pike lifted his hands above his elbows and shrugged. Spock took this as an affirmative to his question. He turned his head to focus upon the dishevelled woman lying on the bed.
"Miss Uhura, it is my duty to inform you that your application into Star Fleet has been accepted. You shall be required to report at the academy in San Francisco in twelve weeks and four days time for initiation"
Uhura stared at him with wide eyes. Her still foggy brain taking a moment to decipher the sentence. When it did, she nearly dropped the cup her mother had placed in her hands. The older woman rescued the container before it slipped from her fingers and spilt the remaining liquid all over her sheets.
She had been accepted? She tried to think of an appropriate response, one that would show her disbelief and shock, voice her confusion given the events of the night - the inappropriate situation she had forced the Commander into. She had quite literally fainted in his arms!
"Huh?"
That was close enough.
Pike let out an amused laugh, and awarded her with a lop sided smile.
"What he means, is welcome to Star Fleet cadet"