Chapter 4
The following week, Nyota contacted the person who posted the flyer about housing. Her single room was costing thousands of credits each month. If the room was decent, she could stockpile the savings to use during graduate school. She walked up to the house. It didn't look too bad. The neighborhood was quite different from Greek Row. She stepped back and waited. A few minutes later, an older Black woman answered the door.
"Hello," she said.
"I am Nyota. I called about the room for rent?" Nyota said.
The woman looked at Nyotqa sideways.
"You got a boyfriend?" she asked.
Nyota sighed and looked down.
"No, I don't."
"Oh, well, come in. The last girl I rented to was a fast one, always having boys sniffing around." The woman opened the door.
Nyota expected a place like her grandmother's, but this place was a Japandi minimalist style. Nyota nodded.
"This is lovely," she said.
"I was a designer when I was young. These are twentieth-century items I collected over the years." The old woman said.
"How long?" the woman said.
"I'm sorry?" Nyota replied.
"How long do you need a place?" the woman said.
Nyota exhaled. I need a place at least through August of next year. I have applied for a graduate program in math. Then I am applying for Starfleet Academy next fall. So…" Nyota's words faded off. She wondered if she had said to much.
"How are your grades?" She asked.
"I have a 4.0 GPA in Anthropology, uh…xenoculturalism," Nyota added.
"My focus was xeno-cultural design in school." She said.
"I am Charlotte Masters. I have a niece at the academy. Her name is Charlene. You will get a chance to meet her. She comes down for Mother's Day." Charlotte said.
Nyota smiled broadly. She took that as a clue that she was going to get the place.
"If I am not being too forward, does this mean I can move in?" Nyota said.
"Don't you have to give notice or something?" Ms. Masters said.
"Yes, well, my father paid for the year. I will try to get a refund for the last few months. I wasn't going to stay past June anyway." Nyota said.
"You have…the rent?" Ms. Masters said.
"I can pay first, last and a deposit. I have no pets. I have sold most of my clothes and other stuff." Nyota said too much again.
"Starting fresh," Ms. Masters said.
"Yes, ma'am!" Nyota said with glee.
"Well, I guess I should show you around. Come with me," Ms. Master stood up, and Nyota followed her.
By the time the tour was over, Nyota was hooked. Ms. Masters had a minimalist style, but the place had interesting artifacts and artwork.
Nyota planned to move on the first of February. The house was not far from the south campus and the shopping center she liked. The only thing left to do was to talk to Mrs. Scott, complete her application for the certificate programs and to find a job.
**(
When Nyota arrived home, she saw a blue sporty hovercar in the drive. She went inside and made her way to Mrs. Scott's suite. She knocked.
"Of, Nyota. I was just going to send for you. You have company, come in." she said.
"Okay," Nyota looked around. She smiled when she saw Scotty.
"Hi, Scotty," Nyota said. "What's up?"
"Not, Monty," Mrs. Scott said.
Hikaru stepped into Nyota's view. He was carrying a bouquet of flowers.
He stepped forward and held them out.
"No, thanks. You are better off saving up so you can pay me what you spent," Nyota said. She turned to go.
"I made a mistake," Sulu said.
"What?" Nyota asked.
"I made a mistake breaking up with you." He said with pleading eyes.
"One thing I know about you, Sulu. You do not make mistakes. Every action and every decision you make is carefully thought out. Maybe you did not expect me to take back the credit chip. Maybe you thought I would be so drunk, I would forget it." Nyota said.
"I hear you are planning to apply to Starfleet Academy. Maybe you two can go together," Mrs. Scott said.
Nyota flashed a glare at Scotty. He looked flushed and left quickly.
"Mrs. Scott, I will be moving out on February 1st. I need a refund for the rest of the year." Nyota said.
"Your contract says you must give thirty days notice," Mrs. Scott said sternly.
"I am moving out on the first, and you can pro-rate my refund from February 25th," Nyota said.
"But," Mrs. Scott began. Nyota placed her hand on her hips.
"Send me a notification when my refund is ready. I will stop by and pick it up." Nyota said.
Mrs. Scott's padd buzzed. She picked it up and saw Nyota's notice.
"As for you, Sulu. You should start looking for a job. I will expect my first payment on March 1st." Nyota turned and walked out. She passed several girls who watched her but didn't speak.
It was a tough five days. Not even Maxi and Maisy spoke to Nyota. She was glad to be leaving. This was never the life she wanted. Sulu turned Nyota into a fictional character, living a fictional life. He used Nyota and her father's money to look like a big shot.
Nyota was delighted when the courier arrived on the first. She was down to five boxes, two suitcases and a tote. She left early that morning as the sun was rising. When the van arrived across campus, the sun was up, and Ms. Master's was watering her garden.
"Oh, Nyota, come in," she said.
"What about my things?" Nyota said.
"Oh, Charlene's boyfriend will bring them up. They are visiting for the weekend," She turned and called out. "Monty, come fetch Nyota's things."
Nyota's jaw dropped when Scotty came bounding out of the house. He grinned and grabbed two boxes. Nyota carried one suitcase and her tote. He took the other items to her room. Then, Ms. Masters led Nyota to the kitchen.
"Nyota, this is my niece Charlene and her boyfriend Monty Scott. They attend the academy, too. I am sure you all are going to be great friends." Ms. Masters said.
Nyota shook her head and laughed at the coincidence. Then she held out her hand and said, "Nice to meet you."
By the fall, Nyota was enrolled in the math certificate program. She looked very different than she did when she lived on Greek Row. She saw several folks she used to socialize with. They acted as though they didn't know her. Nyota wasn't sure if she was being snubbed. It didn't matter. She wanted to develop relationships with people she met through common interests, like anthropology and xeno-cultural studies.
With Scotty and Charlene's help, Nyota's math grades were strong, and her practice test scores increased steadily. Her last hurdle was the STEMAT and her essay. Nyota realized that most of the activities she participated in as a Greek were lightweight compared to the other people she met at the prospective student tour.
Charlene, who had picked up Nyota in Sausolito, was showing Nyota around when they encountered an Andorian officer. As they passed by, Nyota greeted him in his home language. He replied and stopped.
"Miss," he called out.
Nyota turned around and smiled.
"Yes," she replied.
"Do you speak Andorian?" he asked.
Nyota shrugged, "I speak some." She replied.
"Let me know if you understand what I am saying," he said in Andorian.
"I understood every word," Nyota replied with a grin.
"Do you speak other Federation languages?" he asked.
"I speak, Vulkhansu, Klingon and Tellerite." Nyota said. "I am having trouble with Orion."
"Orion!"He cried. The officer waved at the admiral across the quad.
"Come with me," he said.
Nyota looked at Charlene.
"Go!" Charlene whispered.
"Admiral Gainsworth, this cadet speaks a few Federation languages." The Andorian said.
"No, sir," Nyota shook her head. "I am not a cadet. I am a prospective student."
"Well, have you applied?" Gainsworth said.
"I have, but I still have to complete the STEMAT and my essay." She replied.
"Come with me," Admiral Gainsworth said.
Nyota looked at Charlene. She flapped her hands and motioned for Nyota to go. Nyota followed the Andorian and Gainsworth into the administration building. She sat in the lobby. Several officers entered. Nyota was getting nervous. It had been six months since she practiced her language skills.
Nyota was called in and questioned by several Starfleet personnel, each in his or her native language. Lastly, a tall handsome Vulcan entered the room.
He posed a question to Nyota.
She shook her head.
"You do not understand?" he asked.
"This one cannot speak Golic. This one only speaks Vulkhansu," she replied.
"You understood him?" Admiral Gainsworth said.
"Yes, but that is only part of the translation process, sir." Nyota sighed.
"I am a little rusty." She confessed.
"Rusty, my foot, we don't have a single faculty member who can speak all of these languages. Where did you learn?" he asked.
"I studied xeno-cultural studies at UCLA," Nyota said.
"Impressive," the Vulcan said.
"Well, it looks like you are working on the math grades." The admiral looked at her application on his padd. "Mr. Spock can assist you with math when you become his TA," Admiral Gainsworth said.
Spock looked at the admiral but said nothing. He has always had two teaching assistants, and it still wasn't enough. The TAs often had to use a universal translator with the newer students who were learning Standard.
"When can you start?" Gainsworth said.
"I don't understand, sir," Nyota said.
"The admiral is asking if you are ready to enroll in Starfleet Academy," Spock said.
"Well, I will finish this term in December. I can start in January?" It sounded like a question.
"Very good, Lt. Spock, take her to the registration office. We want her to start as soon as possible."
Nyota followed Spock outside. Charlene ran over to talk to Nyota.
"What happened," Charlene asked.
"I got in. I am going to be Lt. Spock's TA." Nyota whispered.
"Wow!" Charlene stopped walking. Then she ran to catch up.
"Meet me at the Pub when you finish," Charlene said.
Nyota nodded and jogged to keep up with Lt. Spock.