Blue was not a color often seen on Vulcan. No blue flowers, no blue water. The sky shined red or gold at various times of the year. The smallest of children used copper or shades of red to signify water in their artwork. Blue was extraordinarily rare.
So it was especially noticeable when he returned to his room from a vigorous workout on the sand blown rocks outside the enclave. A simple sheet of heavy blue paper with a Starfleet insignia on the front. It stood out in the room like - well like blue on Vulcan.
Before he opened it he entertained the briefest moment of wonder that perhaps Starfleet was re activating his commission.
But brushing the thought aside he broke the old style seal and opened it immediately recognizing the form. In broad sweeping letters it read "You are cordially invited to the graduation of Christine Chapel". Details of the day and time followed with typical Starfleet formality.
Graduation?
He paused a moment noting the date.
It hardly seemed possible, but a year had passed.
Christine was graduating from medical school.
It was logical to believe that her life had changed in the time that had passed. And yet he still remembered her as she had been that night in the ballroom on Enterprise or as he had last seen her, lying unconscious in a Starfleet hospital. Then her gentle beauty had been marred by the brutal attack by the Orion pirates. He did not often conjure that image.
He wondered what she looked like now. His mind had been so caught up this last year in the moment that he lost control that his mind had, most illogically, not considered the passage of time.
He cocked an eyebrow at this but his gesture went unnoticed. No one was there to see it. No one was there to care to laugh at his lapse, no disapproving eyes, no one.
His face instantly returned to its accustomed impassive expression. His mind quickly squashed the insistent whisper in his mind.
With a swift motion he pulled his meditation robe over his head and without another thought about Christine he moved out the door to the great hall.
It was time to meditate.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
The sun was shining down on a clear San Francisco morning. If she was going to make it to the graduation ceremony she absolutely had to leave now.
Funny that she should be so nervous. After everything she'd been through on the Enterprise it seemed inconceivable that a little pomp and circumstance would get to her so much.
Maybe it wasn't the fact that in a few short hours she'd officially be a doctor that had placed the butterflies in her stomach. She looked at the letter she'd written to Dr. M'Benga. Somehow the electronic display seemed so very impersonal.
She read the words again, as she had a hundred times that day. Reached out to change one word in the message then stopped. It was fine the way it was. All she had to do was push 'send' and it would be done.
Vulcan.
She wondered what Leonard would think. With the great Orion clean up in its final stages, Enterprise was scheduled to return to Starfleet in 6 months. It made no sense to accept a posting on the starship.
However, Dr. M'Benga had made her an offer she just couldn't refuse a position as a fellow at the Vulcan Science Institute's Medical center. His partner at the center was taking parental leave and he desperately needed someone who could jump right in.
She lifted her hand once again. Held it over the 'send' button on the comm pad.
What would George say?
He still spoke of his plan to place her on the Enterprise someday. But she was graduating today and Enterprise didn't need a new CMO.
She looked over the letter once again, then noticing that it was time to go she pushed the green button, sealing her fate.
Vulcan.
She picked up her bag and looked at herself one last time in the mirror. Then she walked to the door. As it slid open it startled a smartly dressed Dr. Birdseye.
"George!" she exclaimed in surprise. "You haven't been lurking on my doorstep long have you?"
He made a show of clutching his chest in surprise, which was doubly comical considering his tall lankiness. "No-no! I just got here. You scared me out of my wits with the door though."
"What are you doing here? Don't you have some intergalactic bio research proposal to review?"
"As a matter of fact, no. I cleared my schedule for the day to escort you to school."
She smiled broadly and took his arm, "Why George Birdseye if you don't stop this, people will start talking!"
"Humph! Let 'em talk! My wife'll defend my honor!"
"Oh I'm sure Ann will, but who'll defend my honor?" she laughed.
A voice was heard from the open lift at the end of the hall, "I will!" Commander Uhura peeked out. She was dressed in her Starfleet dress uniform especially for the occasion.
"Ny!" Chris let go of the tall man's arm and rushed to embrace her friend. "Gods it's good to see you! You look terrific!"
"C'mon now ladies." George shooed them into the lift. "We can catch up on the way. You don't want to be late to your graduation, do you 'Doctor'?"
Christine beamed in response and as the trio stepped into the lift she spoke, "George, Ny, there's something I need to tell you."