Spock looked up from where he was writing a report on a data pad as he heard a voice say "Commander Spock, Commander Spock" He glanced at the person who had spoken it was Lieutenant Smith.

The short engineer was highly agitated. He spoke quickly, obviously affronted "They told me to get out the engine room, I was in there and I opened this panel, and there were all kinds of things in there that didn't make any sense. They saw me there and told me to get away. I told them what I was doing and they told me to leave the engine room!"

Lieutenant Smith finally paused for breath.

Spock raised an eyebrow and said "They told you to leave?"

"Yes, Commander Spock, you'd think they'd be grateful that—"

Spock raised a hand forestalling any further comments and got up. He glanced around the bridge and saw Uhura was still there, along with Ensign O'Connor. Silkar had disappeared. Spock paused for a moment wondering should he leave the two women alone here by themselves, then shook off the illogical feeling. There was nothing there that could hurt them.

Spock wasn't surprised the engineer had managed to get himself kicked out the engine room. Smith had an attitude that seemed to generally inference that everybody was inferior to himself and knowing Smith he had probably put up quite a fuss when the Vulcans had told him to get away from that panel. Still, Spock knew he had to go investigate the man's comment if only so he wouldn't have to listen to the irate engineer complain for hours.

They walked towards the engine room, Smith chattered the whole way, hurrying to keep up with Spock's long strides.

When they arrived at the engine room Spock found everything as it should have been, the Vulcans and Enterprise crew worked side-by-side. As Spock walked in Smith said "that's who told me to leave! Him!" he pointed a finger at a man and Spock saw that it was Silkar he was pointing at. Silkar walked towards them his face expressionless. Silkar walked up to them, Spock explained what Smith had told him. Silkar looked at him and said "Commander Spock, Lieutenant Smith was near a critical piece of circuitry, also there was the possibility of harmful radiation from the panel he was near. We had no wish for your engineer to come to harm. I believe my words were to leave and go to the infirmary for a medical scan."

Smith sputtered indignantly and said "that's not what you said! You told me to leave."

Silkar said "My apologies if you misunderstood me."

Smith said "I didn't misunderstand you. I heard what you said."

Silkar stared at Smith then said "are you saying I'm lying?"

"That's exactly what I'm saying—" Smith said crossly

Silkar turned away from Smith and spoke to Spock. "Your crew man was in danger of coming to harm through his actions and we removed him from the vicinity. He was not told to leave. Offence was not intended. We merely did not wish him to be injured, that would be most unfortunate"

Silkar stared at Spock holding his gaze.

Spock turned to Smith and said "His words do have logic lieutenant, they know this ship better than we do. It would be advisable for you to report to the infirmary for a diagnostic scan."

Smith said begrudgingly "Aye sir" He was still glowering angrily at Silkar. After a last look Smith turned around and walked away. Spock began to walk away, Silkar followed saying "are you going to the bridge" Spock nodded curtly.

Silkar asked "Is Uhura there?"

Spock turned to look at him not answering the question. Silkar continued, "I wanted to tell her that I changed some of the comm. circuitry"

Spock's face was stony, but he gave a half-nod.

He and Silkar continued to the bridge in silence, when they got there Silkar gave Uhura the message then left. But Spock didn't like the way he had stared at her as he had talked. No matter how Spock tried he couldn't shake off the feeling that there was something not right with Silkar. Almost an hour later Spock was called away to another hangar deck, he didn't want to leave Uhura here, but reasoned she would be okay, logically there was no reason to worry. She wasn't alone, Havarii was also on the bridge, and he would only be gone a few minutes. He walked over to where Uhura was, she looked tired. They had been working for hours, it was nearly the middle of the night ship's time. "Uhura" He said quietly not wanting to attract the attention of Havarii. She glanced at him , he spoke "I'm going to one of the other ship's I'll be back in a few minutes. Be-" He stopped feeling illogical, but then said it anyway "be careful"

Uhura gave a tired smile and said "Be careful? Spock , what am I going to do? Cut my finger on the console while I'm typing or trip on a step while you're gone?"

Spock said "Uhura, I'm serious. Be careful around Silkar, there's just—something odd"

Uhura looked at him soberly and said "Okay Spock, I will."

Spock nodded then walked away. Uhura continued working. She felt more alert feeling; the entire conversation had been so unlike Spock it was startling. Spock talked in absolutes and objective data, not subjective impression. Havarii walked by telling her he was going to check a circuit in a nearby room, and then he left. Uhura was alone now. She turned back around as she heard footsteps on the bridge, Silkar was behind her. He glanced around and said "Is Spock around?" Uhura equivocated, thinking of what Spock had said "he just stepped out for a moment."

Silkar nodded, but he appeared to see through her words. He sat down in a chair that was disturbingly close to her and said "you're very aesthetically pleasing"

Uhura was silent and ignored his comment wishing Spock or somebody would come back.

"So, Spock. Are you and him together?" Silkar asked

Uhura turned to him startled and said "That's none of your business"

Silkar was unperturbed and said "My pardons if you found the comment intrusive, he just seems very protective of you"

Uhura felt very uncomfortable, she wondered if she got up would Silkar follow.

Silkar continued "You're not like the other humans you're more ordered, more logical, I see why Spock likes you"

Uhura didn't know whether his comments were clumsy attempts to flirt with her or not, but they were unwelcome and downright creepy. She stood up, and was about to walk away when the door opened and Spock entered. He looked between Uhura who looked angry and Silkar who was sitting there calmly. Silkar spoke "Uhura and I were just having a conversation".

Spock's face was cold. Silkar stood up and walked past Spock and off the bridge. Spock watched him go then turned to Uhura.

"What was he doing, Nyota. And where is Havarii?"

"Havarii left to go look at something" Uhura noted Spock's face which was clearly angry if you knew how to read it and continued "and Silkar was talking, he wanted to know whether you and I were together" She left out his other comments.

Spock moved closer to her and said "I don't like him coming around you" A muscle twitched in his face. Seeing his anger Uhura reached out and grabbed his hand "I'll be careful Spock, there's something about him that's... odd "

XXXX XXXX

As Silkar walked down the passage he recognized one of the Enterprise crew as Havarii. He stopped the human and started talking to him, complimenting the man's work. After a few moments he slipped into the conversation "So is Spock a Vulcan?" Havarii looked startled by the statement but answered "Well yes, not completely though he's half-Vulcan, half-human But can't you tell that from looking at him that he's Vulcan ?"

Silkar said "one should never assume anything."

Havarii shrugged and said "Okay I guess, but why do you ask?"

Silkar replied "I was just curious" then he walked away, leaving Havarii staring after him puzzled.

Next update will be January 18th. So , how is the story so far I'm planning on going back and correcting some stuff a little later. Now that I'm posting I'm spotting errors and I'm trying to fix them as I go, but when I finish posting this story, I'm planning on tidying it up. I know this story probably isn't the same quality as Words of Revolution, but I wrote this story several months before Words of Revolution and my writing has vastly improved. Anyway hope you enjoy! And reviews are definitely appreciated.