He stares at me before swallowing twice. "My staff deserved better treatment."
My heart breaks for him, but I shrug in false bravado. "Good riddance."
The VSA delegates had been dismissive of Spock's Academy science labs: the quantum mechanics experiments glistening and complex, demonstrating months of preparation by his team of graduate students. Captain Pike had raved over the efficiencies they'd discovered.
Professor Solon merely glanced over the work, making one derisory comment before sweeping out with his entourage: "Most quaint."
Later, Spock sighs. "Disappointment would be a human response."
"You deserved better, Spock."
"It went as well as expected."