This chapter is dedicated to Bergamasque, who is translating this story into French! Enjoy!
Spock stood in the corner of the room, watching. The party was in full swing. There so many people. Social gatherings on Vulcan were few and far less chaotic. Parties Jim had put together at the Academy were often louder and considerably more chaotic than this one.
This party was not quiet, but not uncomfortably loud. People were conversing and laughing and seemingly enjoying themselves.
"Spock, come over here!" Jim called, Spock went over by his roommates. Jim was sitting on the couch, surrounded by other people his age.
"Spock, this is Joshua, Clark, Marie, Kara, Peter and the one sitting by Chris is his girlfriend, Ari."
"Hello, I am Spock." he said.
"Come on, sit down." said Bones, Spock did.
"So you're Vulcan?" asked the boy called Peter.
"I am."
"Is it really a hundred degrees every day there?"
"Only during the winter months. Generally it is warmer."
"Wow." said Joshua. "And I thought our summers could get warm."
"How heat affects people is relative. I find San Francisco cooler than I am comfortable with many days, while James often says it is too warm."
"Wait," said Kara. "If you think California is cold, how are you even alive here?" James laughed.
"Come on, we got him a warm coat, and he's wearing a sweater."
"I wish I lived somewhere that warm, I hate the cold!" said Marie. "Hey, Bones, think you're parents would mind if I borrowed your room during the school year?" Everyone laughed.
The group settled back into casual conversation. Spock was normally not one to make 'small talk' but tonight he made and effort, and found that it was not as difficult as it had once been. Obviously he had improved his ability to interact with humans in the last two years.
"No, Spock tell them it happened." said Bones. "Kirk really did blow up the chemistry teacher's desk."
"It was an accident. No one told me not to mix vials."
"The reason you were not told is because it was written on the chalkboard." said Spock. Joshua laughed.
"That sounds like our Jim." Spock stood up.
"Excuse me."
"Hey, where you going, Spock?" asked Clark.
"To get something to drink."
"Try the cocoa!" said Bones.
"I hope that you are being sarcastic, Leonard." Spock turned around and walked toward the kitchen.
"Spock! How are you doing?" asked Winona.
"I am well."
"Enjoying yourself?"
"Normally I would find such a social exercise illogical but, tonight I have found it pleasurable.
"I'll take it as a compliment." she said. "You know, you and Leonard have been a good influence on Jim."
"How so?"
"Every time he comes home, he's just a little bit less flippant. You he's still energetic and full of plans, but he's more controlled, I guess mature would be the right word." She looked through the doorway to where Jim, his brother, and his friends were sitting. "It's nice to see him getting on with his life."
"I do not believe I follow." said Spock. Winona smiled.
"I guess I shouldn't be surprised he didn't tell you, he doesn't talk about it much. Spock, Have you heard of Kodos?"
"He was the governor of the colony, Tarus IV, when the colony was stranded he arbitrarily chose half of it's occupants and killed them in what he called an attempt to ensure the survival of the other half. It is the greatest, and even as a Vulcan I add, most horrific, massacre of our time."
"Yes. And Jim was there." said Winona. "When he was younger, he hated it here, that's the long and short of it, he couldn't stand the small-town feel and living in the middle of nowhere. So, we arranged for him to go live with my sister, Evana. A few months afterwards is when the Federation got cut off from the colony, and-" she stopped. "I shouldn't be telling you this, but, I'm sure you've wondered at some point why Jim is such a hyper person."
"I have."
"I think he's been using it as a screen, just a way to keep himself separate. I don't think I'm making sense..."
"You're logic is sound. You believe that since that experience James had been using this already flippant nature to filter out the horror of it."
"I suppose, and he was just thirteen at the time, and something like that would be horrible no matter how old you are. I just wanted to tell you, thank you."
"You are welcome." said Spock. Jim came in.
"Hey, Mom. Great job with this whole thing, again. Come on, Spock, it's almost midnight!"
"I'm going to go find your dad." said Winona and she left the room. Spock was dragged away by Jim.
Midnight came and passed, and people started to go home. Chris left to take Ari home. Jim, Bones, and Spock went upstairs.
"I have something to show you." said Jim. "Come on!" they all went into Jim's room. Jim opened up his window and climbed out.
"Jim what are-"
"Come on!" McCoy and Spock looked at each other, Bones shrugged and climbed out the window, followed by Spock. Jim was sitting out on the roof looking up.
"I come out here a lot, it's so peaceful, you can see for, like, ever."
"It is a nice view." said McCoy, sitting down next to his friend. Spock did the same.
"James? You're mother said you were on Tarus IV when-"
"I was, yeah."
"Wait really?" said Bones. "But you would've been twelve or something!"
"Thirteen. Why did she even tell you?" asked Jim. "She knows I don't talk about it."
"Because she seems to believe you never 'got over it' and Leonard and I cause you to."
"Well, maybe. I don't know. said Kirk, looking up at the stars. "Remember when I said I don't believe in no-win situations? Well the reason I don't is Tarus IV was one. Kodos made it one by killing four thousand people from three different races." he looked at each of his roommates. "He's still alive you know, he escaped. I spent a whole month being debriefed and practically interrogated because of it, and this is after knowing my Aunt was killed.
"Why would they debrief some random kid?" asked Bones.
"Starfleet wouldn't. Governor Kodos was known as a very private man, only a handful of people in the colony could even tell you what he looked like. I saw him, and I'll always remember now." There was quiet for a moment. Jim perked up.
"Hey, don't dwell on it, okay? It was horrible, and still is, but it's over, I've moved beyond it. And you know what, I'm about to say something really cheesy."
"What?" said Bones.
"I am better for having known you two. I think we're all better for having known each other."
"I agree." said Spock.
"Well, I guess if it comes right down to it, if you want to really split hairs, so do I." said McCoy. Kirk laughed.
"Happy New Year, guys."
"Happy New Year."
"Happy New Year."