Naruto: Infinity Divide
The Entrance Exam
Blanket disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or Star Trek
AUTHOR'S NOTE:
We have a two year time skip at the beginning of this chapter and Naruto will be going through some changes as he grows into being a teenager. Also, I don't intend to introduce a plethora of Naruto characters. One or two may appear from time to time but they are simply reincarnated souls. I have no plans to give them chakra or gain memories of previous lives. That of course doesn't mean Naruto couldn't befriend them. Enjoy!
Last time:
"Well, that boy certainly was an interesting one." said Ayano. "He seems calm on the surface but it seems the spirit of a powerful predator lurks within him."
"I think he's kinda neat." replied Ino with a giggle.
Inoichi just shook his head at his daughter's antics…
…
"So what did you think of your first interactions with a non-Vulcan child your age Naruto?" asked T'Ara. "She seems fairly typical for a baseline human despite the fact she's a Betazoid."
"Her tendency to change moods and subjects rapidly was most baffling and didn't follow any sort of logic that I could ascertain." said Naruto. "She did not seem to possess any ill will but it was all very confusing."
T'Ara said, "Imagine being on a ship full of people like that. Starfleet is an experience."
"How did you keep your sanity?" asked the blonde boy.
His Mother answered sagely, "It took lots and lots of meditation at times."
...
Chapter 5
...
Stardate 2267.253 Planet Vulcan, The Plains of Gol
Two years had passed rapidly for Naruto and his friends. The nearly thirteen year old boy and his family were taking a vacation with T'Lyra's family as well as Kesh's. The three friends had become close as time had passed and their parents had become acquainted as a result. They'd come all the way east of ShiKahr City to the Plains of Gol to ride dzharels*① on a ranch. None of the children had ever seen one of the horse like creatures before in person so it was a novel experience for all of them. The four year old Talok's eyes were wide with fascination as they walked over to the ranch where all the dzharels were kept. Looking over the fence at the blue and black zebra striped animals; the little girl pointed at young foal and said to T'Ara, "Look Mama, a baby one! Can I ride the baby?"
T'Ara looked fondly at her daughter and said, "Let's talk to the ranch owners and see about finding a little one for you." 'I haven't been out here since I was a teenager. I was just as fascinated with them as Talok. They are such beautiful animals.'
Sovar was standing beside Naruto as the blonde carefully examined each dzharel with a critical eye. He'd been reading about the creatures and their habits in detail for the last two weeks. "So our ancestors of the M'Fau clan rode these noble creatures and mastered them in the ancient past. Fascinating. What do you think Father?"
Placing his hand on Naruto's shoulder, Sovar said, "The M'Fau blood in your veins is from your Mother's side. My side of the family are distant cousins that were mainly artisans. I wonder if you and Talok will have a flare for riding. I'm mediocre at best."
"With the balance and coordination you have with the martial arts that surprises me Father." said Naruto.
Sovar shrugged and said, "I think it is more a matter of being able to bond with the dzharels themselves. I've never been that good with animals in general."
Naruto nodded as he saw T'Lyra excitedly climb on the back of the dzharel that she had picked to ride. "Watch me Naruto!" said the blue wearing girl with a wave.
The blond waved back and Kesh came over. "I want to ride that one." he said pointing at one with turquoise stripes.
Naruto looked at the dzharel that Kesh was eyeing and said, "That one looks too skittish to me."
Kesh asked, "Did your books tell you that my friend?"
The blonde shook his head and said. "I trust my instincts. That animal is feeling uneasy."
Soon Talok was feeding fruit to the little foal that she was so excited about. The rides had been sedate as they were being conducted carefully under the watchful eyes of the ranchers. Everything went smoothly and everyone took a couple of rides safely. Talok soon had a foal that was small so she was very excited. It was shaping to be a perfect day of riding until Kesh got to ride the turquoise striped mare that he was so enamored with. The nervous animal reared up and everyone had to leap clear as the mare shot off into the sunset carrying the hapless Kesh along…
"Kesh!" cried out Kesh's parents. T'Lyra and her parents were also panicked.
Naruto face palmed. 'Only you Kesh…' thought the blonde morosely. The ranchers were already off in hot pursuit of the runaway mare and her luckless passenger…
…
Within twenty minutes it was apparent that the tired animals the ranchers had were not going to catch Kesh because the mare was frightened and fresh…
…
Naruto said, "We need a fresh animal to catch Kesh or he'll end up on the other side of the plains." The blonde looked at the many dzharels shuffling about and his eyes crackled with chakra. Most of the animals shied away but Naruto held out his hand to one without a saddle. "Come my friend." said Naruto. "Will you help me catch my danger prone friend before he gets himself killed?"
One of the elderly ranchers panicked a bit and said, "Young man, that's a breeding stud. He is too wild to ride."
The blonde rubbed the nose of the stallion and said, "He is the fastest. He will help me catch that mare."
The red eyed stallion blew steam out of its nostrils and Naruto slipped up on the stallion's bare back smoothly as he would have with a saddle. Naruto placed his palm on the dzharel's neck just like he read his ancestors did when they 'spoke' to the animals. "Let's go." said Naruto quietly as he leaned low for speed. The stallion reared up a bit and then took off like a bullet from a gun…
…
Kesh was wide eyed with panic as his dzharel mare barreled along. The boy's braided hair was whipping in the wind behind him. He tried pulling a bit on the reins but frightened mare just sped up. He didn't realize it but the ranchers calling after him were being left in the dust. As they crested a large hill Kesh tried pulling the reins again only to cause the dzharel to turn left and start heading down a sharp incline…
Minutes later Naruto and his stallion crested the same hill and his dzharel came to a halt. Naruto looked down the incline and saw Kesh and the mare travelling unsteady downhill at his left. "Unbelievable…" he muttered. Naruto and the stallion both looked right and saw a much safer and shallower incline that looped around to the base of the hill. Naruto gently nudged the stallion to the right with his hand on its neck and the dzharel took off like a rocket again. Naruto felt his spiky hair being blown about as the stallion smoothly accelerated. 'No wonder my clan loved these creatures! This feeling of riding like the wind is completely liberating…'
The stallion leapt over a small ravine and shot down the path leaving a trail of dust in its wake. Naruto looked ahead and grinned as the intensity of the adrenaline increased. They arrived at the bottom of the hill as Kesh and his mare ended their perilous trip down the incline. Naruto let the stallion steer himself as they matched speed with the mare. Naruto reached across and roughly gripped the reins of the mare bringing the frightened animal to a halt. Kesh was hyperventilating as he gripped Naruto's shoulder and felt his heartbeat start slow down…
"How is it you get into these situations Kesh?" asked Naruto in disbelief.
"There is no logic in my life." lamented Kesh.
Naruto just face palmed again…
…
Later…
The ranch owner said to Naruto, "It defies logic that Vuzh*② allowed you to ride him young man. That stallion has always been wild. The only thing I can say is you are a credit to the M'Fau Clan to do what you did."
Naruto said, "I had to save my friend."
The old rancher nodded, "Come back if you ever need riding lessons. You have a natural talent for Naruto M'Fau."
…
Stardate 2267.260 City of ShiKahr, Old Quarter
Naruto was having lunch with T'Lyra at the little restaurant in the Old Quarter she was so fond of. They were having her favorite, kleetanta with forati sauce. Naruto also had some ulan soup as a side. "It amazes me that you plan to try out for the Vulcan Science Academy so young Naruto. Are you sure you aren't rushing things a bit? It doesn't seem very logical to me to go headlong into this."
The blonde replied, "My Mother went in when she was fifteen. She says it will be a good exercise to prepare for the future entrance exams. Besides, it will give me two years of practice if I intend to get in at fifteen."
T'Lyra drummed her fingers. "Naruto, have you considered what will happen if you pass the entrance exams? That brain of yours has gotten you in trouble before. Sometimes you are too smart for your own good. I personally blame T'Ara for this."
"I'm sure my Mother would be honored by your words T'Lyra." said Naruto with amusement in his blue eyes.
The blue wearing girl said quietly, "I don't want you to go away to another school Naruto. I'll….be alone without you…."
Naruto said, "The Vulcan Science Academy is only a few kilometers outside ShiKhar. It isn't like I'll really be going away."
"Then you really are trying to get in early?" she asked.
He sighed. "Of course I'm trying. I need to do my best. It wouldn't be logical to not give my all. On the contrary, I don't believe it would realistic to assume I will gain entry on my first try. As I said; this is for practice as much as anything."
T'Lyra said, "But it is possible you could get in."
"Anything is possible T'Lyra." replied Naruto. "Will you support me in this endeavor? You are my dear friend."
T'Lyra sighed softly and said, "Of course I will support you Naruto. You are my dearest friend…"
…
Stardate 2267.290 , T'Ara and Sovar's house
On Naruto's thirteenth birthday he was old enough to take the entrance exams for the Vulcan Science Academy. The entrance exams were a week later. The blonde got up earlier than usual and studied the practice exams until T'Ara rose and convinced him that it was logical to stop studying and eat breakfast. After that she drove Naruto down to her old alma mater, the Vulcan Science Academy. Specifically she took him to the entrance exam halls. T'Ara looked proudly at her son. Seeing he needed a bit of encouragement she said, "Naruto, just do your best. If you fail to gain entrance this year there is no shame in it. Your Father, sister and I will all be just as proud of you." She ruffled his spiky blonde hair affectionately and said, "Now go my son. Have confidence in yourself."
Naruto swallowed the lump in his throat and nodded. "I'll do my best Mother." Then he went over and got in line with the (mostly) older applicants…
…
Exam Hall
After everyone was assigned a learning station Naruto focused on has center until he was ready. He placed his fingers on the touch pads of the learning station and the four data screens activated. He saw each holographic image come into focus with the Vulcan Science Academy Emblem. There was no prelude or explanation film. The computer said in a genderless, emotionless voice, "Test Applicant 2267155, Naruto M'Fau: Test Battery 1: Begin." Naruto's blue eyes lit up with chakra as every synapse in his young mind roared into a frenzy of activity.
Each screen asked different questions in a rapid fire way as Naruto shot the answers back just as quickly. He soon fell into a rhythm with the machines as he picked out the algorithms of all four machines as they sped up and slowed down to throw his thought patterns off. As questions about geography and tectonics shot by on the screens the blonde young man entered the manual coordinates for a most likely occurrence for a volcanic eruption on the opposite screen. All four screens stopped at once and the computer said, "Test Battery 1 completed. One standard hour has elapsed. Stand by for results."
Naruto took a deep breath and braced himself for the numbers…
"Geography: 100% Geology: 99% Tectonics: 100% Archeology: 100%"
The blonde young man grit his teeth. 'Damn it. I missed a question.'
Naruto didn't have time to dwell further on the subject as the computer screens focused again on the Academy emblem and the computer said: "Test Applicant 2267155, Naruto M'Fau: Test Battery 2: Begin."
…
Proctor Room
T'Ara was up in the Test Proctor Room. She wasn't actually proctoring but rather she was observing as a scientist. Her specific study: Naruto's hybrid brainwave functions. 'My son's brainwaves are simply marvelous. He is currently only using 50% of his thought capacity and the other applicants are averaging at 81%. The next lowest student is at 64%. I am so pleased my son. Once again you've exceeded all of my expectations.' She watched as the data poured in and saw the test batteries fly by rapidly; hour after hour. She was sipping her tea when suddenly Naruto's thought capacity usage shot up massively. 'What? Astrophysics? Naruto excels at that. Why would he…?' She didn't notice her old Astrophysics Instructor Doctor Denak smirk from the corner of the darkened proctor room…
…
Exam Hall
Naruto was in the middle of Test Battery 8 when an astrophysics problem dealing with time/space interface started to mathematically collapse. Naruto's blue eyes widened as he saw the lovely wave theorem he was about to complete suddenly imploded…. Naruto was still battling three other screens as the fourth continued to spiral downwards. He rapidly came to a realization and adjusted the wave accordingly to slow down the collapse. Introducing known theorems Naruto soon found the simulated warp field he was stabilizing had collapsed into a wormhole. Naruto then came to a conclusion. "I have to enter the Cochrane Principle Theorem*③ and cause the wormhole to disperse it now!" he thought aloud.
…
Proctor Room
"What do you mean the Cochrane Principle Theorem isn't in the computer Doctor Denak?!" roared T'Ara at her old instructor. "That's a guaranteed fail for that problem!"
Denak said, "Logically any student who studied elementary warp theory has to know the works of Doctor Zefram Cochrane, T'Ara. Any applicant should have it memorized."
T'Ara was seriously considering throttling her old instructor (they never got along regardless) but then suddenly Naruto's thought capacity shot above the limits. "110%, 133%, 147%..." T'Ara was shocked when she realized what Naruto was doing. "He's entering Zefram Cochrane's Principle Theorem manually?!"
"What?!" Doctor Denak practically screeched.
…
Exam Hall
Naruto's right hand was a blur on then view screen as he entered the missing theorem from memory. The blonde's left hand was dancing across the other three screens questions at a normal rate while his right moved at proverbial warp speed.
Mere minutes later Naruto said aloud, "Theorem entered, punch it!" The mathematical wormhole disintegrated back into a beautiful, perfect warp field…
Seconds later, the screens all went blank and the computer spoke again. "Test Battery 8 completed. Eight standard hours have elapsed. Stand by for results."
Naruto was breathing heavily as he stared at the screens. 'There are eight to ten test batteries depending on the course. I don't know if I could do that one again…'
"Physics: 100% Mathematics: 100% Logic: 100% Astrophysics: 100% All test batteries completed."
Naruto made a fist with his right hand and it literally crackled with chakra as he held back a roar of victory…
…
"Applicant 2267155, Naruto M'Fau: Stand by for cumulative entrance exam results." droned the computer.
"Total score: 3194/3200 questions"
"Cumulative score: 99.8125%"
…
Proctor Room
"Yes!" roared T'Ara. She didn't hold back at all. "That is my son!" she turned to Denak and said, "Take that old man! You just couldn't let it go that I disproved your theory when I was still a student and tried to take it out on my boy. Once I've calmed down I'm turning you over to the Academy Ethics Committee." She looked over Naruto's brainwave patterns and saw everything was completely back to normal and marked the 'hyper thought' patterns to look into later. Frankly, T'Ara couldn't have been happier at that moment. She was absolutely beaming…
…
Student's Lounge
Naruto followed the instructions on the screen to go to the student's lounge and await further instructions. As he walked along he saw many applicants were still working on their tests but all of them had one thing in common. Each applicant looked pale, exhausted and generally brain dead. Naruto was sure he looked that way too. He got in line at the lounge where food and drinks were being issued to the tired competitors. He took a drink of what he thought was water and cringed. The woman behind the counter said, "It's electrolytes. It will take care of your headache. You can get a regular drink once you've finished it applicant number 155."
'Talk about impersonal.' Naruto mentally grumped. 'The least they could have done was added our names…'
…
Teacher's Lounge
T'Ara was eagerly going through the data on Naruto's brainwaves and having tea. 'He boosted both his thought speed and his physical speed using chakra when he was in a state of hyper thought. This is absolutely fascinating. He partitioned off a specific set of neural tracts in his brain directly to his fingers to entirely isolate the thought processes required for Cochrane's Principle while the rest of his brain dealt with the other three sets of problems normally. Someone very advanced in the arts of telepathy might be able to do this but Naruto did it instinctively to adapt to his extreme circumstances…simply marvelous.'
Her thoughts were interrupted by an elderly male voice that said, "Is this seat taken Doctor T'Ara?"
T'Ara looked up and said, "Ah, Director Sekla! I did not see you there. Forgive me sir." She went to stand up and bow to the Director of the Academy, but he motioned her to remain seated.
Sekla sat down with a tray of food and said, "It is of no matter T'Ara. I could tell you were quite immersed in your research and did not wish to interrupt…I heard that your son left quite an impression of Doctor Denak…He did the nigh impossible from what I've heard…"
The onyx haired beauty said, "I will submit a full report for you sir. I apologize if I seem remiss. I needed to calm myself a bit before proceeding."
Director Sekla said, "And what better way to calm oneself than to immerse the mind in new data?" The director had a gleam in his eye. "Did you actually say, 'Take that old man!' to Denak?"
T'Ara nearly fell out of her chair in embarrassment. Blushing bright green she said delicately, "In my defense, Doctor Denak and I have been at odds ever since I was an undergrad and I disproved his theory on interphase space."
The Director said, "It would be more appropriate to say you utterly destroyed Denak's Theory that he was so proud of. I have to say it was the most devastating application of both quantum mechanics and astrophysics I've ever seen presented by an undergraduate student to date and I've been teaching for almost a century now."
"Denak's ego was too big to let it go though." said T'Ara with a slight growl in her voice. "He deliberately took his grievances with me out on my thirteen-year-old son."
"And your boy passed the test with honors regardless of the odds Doctor T'Ara. You should be proud." said Director Sekla. "Thirty-seven members of the proctoring staff agree with you on Doctor Denak's behavior and have already reported it to both myself and the Academy Ethics Committee. The other thirteen members of the proctoring staff haven't had time to compile their reports yet."
T'Ara raised a delicate eyebrow. "That many agreed with me?"
"You are completely in the right T'Ara." said Sekla. "Logically, if Denak wanted to randomly test a cross section of students with such a difficult task he would have not only turned it over to the Committee for approval; he would have had several students mock tested. Giving only your son a nearly impossible task is not what the spirit of the Vulcan Science Academy is about. Had your son failed he would have been allowed a retest once things were sorted out. I'm afraid Denak has gone too far this time."
…
Student's Lounge
Naruto finished his food and sat waiting at a table. He got out his tablet and started recording his views on the entrance exam for his Mother's sake. She had asked him for his opinion so she could compare it to her brainwave studies. As he typed away a rather tall young Vulcan woman sat down across the table from him. She set her tray of food down and said, "No offense but aren't you a bit young to be here number 155?"
"I'm thirteen years old so my age meets the requirements number 167." countered Naruto. He set his tablet down and said, "My name is Naruto of the M'Fau Clan; what is yours?"
"I'm Senva of the Tolek Clan." said the Vulcan girl, "I'm sixteen." Her mid length black hair was cut in a rather conservative bob. Naruto noticed she was rather pretty. "Forgive my curiosity but where do you come from? If you hail from the M'Fau Clan then…"
Naruto raised an eyebrow. "I'm a half Vulcan hybrid. I was born here in ShiKahr and was raised as a Vulcan. My appearance always draws attention so do not worry. It is natural to be curious."
She looked slightly surprised at his straightforward answer. "It must be awkward with others."
"I'm used to it." said the blonde. "How do you think you did on the test? There are 500 applicants and only 100 will be allowed."
Senva said, "I scored in the mid 90th percentile so I've passed the minimum requirements to gain entry."
Naruto nodded. "I passed too. I understand 88% is the lowest that can get in and often there are not enough applicants that score high enough to make a full class of 100."
"The Vulcan Science Academy has strict standards to maintain the level of excellence it is renowned for." said Senva.
"Hopefully we will both become classmates." said Naruto.
Senva's dark hazel eyes lit up slightly. "Yes, let us hope for that."
…
Exam Hall
The Head Proctor read off the scores to the assembled applicants. "Starting in first place in class scores at 100% we have…"
Naruto mentally groaned. 'Figures, like Mother said; there's always some overachieving genius that gets a perfect score…'
"…Number 155, Naruto M'Fau. Third in class scores at 99.8125%, Passed with Honors…"
'Passed with Honors?' thought Naruto. 'I didn't know you could get honors with an Entrance Exam. The two above me didn't get them…How odd…'
Senva looked over at Naruto impressed. 'I had no idea. He didn't indicate how well he did. Most would show arrogance but he hasn't displayed any of that.'
…
"…Number 167. Senva Tolek. Twenty fourth in class scores at 95.0625%, Passed…"
Naruto nodded and silently congratulated Senva through eye contact. She nodded back with a pleased look in her eyes.
…
"87 of the 500 hundred applicants passed and are officially accepted into the Vulcan Science Academy. We bid you welcome." said the Head Proctor. "You will receive further instructions before you leave regarding your enrollment. The remaining applicants are invited to try again next year. Live long and prosper."
…
Naruto congratulated Senva verbally and then waited quietly as the students mingled with each other and their parents and families that were present. T'Ara soon emerged from the crowd and easily picked out her son from the throng because of his blonde locks. "Ah, there is my fine son." said T'Ara as she beamed at her blonde haired boy. "I cannot tell you how proud I am of you at this moment."
Naruto stepped outside on a viewing deck with his Mother and felt the hot desert air blowing his hair back. He found his center and thought about the Forge. "Ah…I need to rest my fevered brain. It has been a long day."
T'Ara ruffled his hair. "Your hair is starting to get long again Naruto. I've often wondered if you shouldn't grow it out like your Father." she said conversationally. "What did you think of your entrance exams?"
"They were…taxing." said the blonde. "Entering Cochrane's Principle manually was quite unexpected. I suspect that many students would have had difficulty with that question. Perhaps it's just me. I'm surprised that you didn't mention it Mother."
The onyx eyed beauty had humor in her eyes. "That's because it wasn't supposed to be on the test my son. I doubt most of the staff could have entered it within the time constraints; let alone the students. That is why you alone passed with honors."
Naruto's blonde eyebrows shot up. "Why did I receive such a difficult task then?"
T'Ara gave one of her minimalist smiles and said, "Hmmm…Let me tell you a story Naruto. Once there was a hotheaded undergraduate and an arrogant professor. The professor had a theory he was promoting about the existence of interphase space that was only discovered in the last fifty years or so."
The blonde leaned back seeing the twinkle in his Mother's onyx eyes. "So what happened to the professor?" he asked eagerly.
"The professor was so conceited and confident in his theory that he challenged any of his students to disprove it." said T'Ara. "Unfortunately one of his undergraduate students was so incensed by his sheer arrogance that she took it upon herself to totally dismember his theory on every level she could think of. As it turned out the professor's theory held up fairly well from the strict views of astrophysics so the undergraduate changed her angle to quantum mechanics and found the professor's theory didn't hold up so well."
Naruto watched as his Mother recalled those days and saw her passion for science hidden behind all that logic. He hid a smile as the black haired beauty continued and said, "The undergraduate was sure she could disprove the theory but spent nearly five weeks polishing every last point of her counter arguments to his so-called perfect theory. She challenged him to a debate and the professor said that he would only accept her challenge in front of the other staff and alumni of the Vulcan Science Academy Advisory Board. Such a challenge had never been issued to anyone without a full Doctoral Degree and the undergraduate was understandably shocked by such a stipulation."
"Did she accept his stipulation?" asked Naruto.
T'Ara nodded. "At first it brought her great concern but then she reasoned that if her mathematics disproved his theory to computer simulations that it was irrefutably logical that the same results would occur in front of any group of scientists regardless of their backgrounds. Having thought this through she accepted his challenge in front of the entire class of 90 students and the professor had no choice but to accept her challenge our lose a tremendous amount of face at the Academy."
Naruto rubbed his chin in thought. "So the professor was ensnared in a trap of his own design."
"Exactly." said T'Ara.
"So what did you do to him Mother?" asked Naruto with a raised brow.
"I destroyed Doctor Denak's Theory of Interphase Space from its foundations to its very last conclusions in a three hour debate moderated by Director Sekla himself. Denak's hubris brought about his downfall and all of his taunting and harassment of his undergraduate students was brought to light. It turned out he'd done this sort of thing to many of his students over the years and the Academy Ethics Committee penalized him heavily for his behavior." She let out a contented sigh. "Looking back I could have been much more mature about it but his attitude towards those he is supposed to be educating disgusts me to this day. He and I have been at odds ever since then."
The blonde grinned. "I do believe you could call it a victory then."
She ruffled Naruto's blonde hair again in her usual affectionate way. "Best of all; my son has defeated Doctor Denak as well this very day."
Naruto looked surprised and said, "I did?"
T'Ara explained, "Doctor Denak took Cochrane's Principle out of the computer specifically so you would fail….just to spite me after all these years. Then you shocked everyone by manually entering the formula manually within the allotted time. Everybody would have considered it an impossible task but you did it! This time it wasn't just me that caught him in the act. The majority of the Proctoring Staff that he was supposed to be leading has already submitted formal reports against him to both the Academy Ethics Committee and Director Sekla himself. Denak has gone too far this time but the fact you beat him at his own game makes me immensely proud of you my son. You did very well and I could not be more pleased."
…Naruto wanted to laugh. 'I had no idea that Mother had such a vicious streak in her. I wonder if my pranking isn't from her in part.'
T'Ara wondered about the obvious amusement in her son's blue eyes but was interrupted from asking about it because all the 87 new students were paged back inside.
….
T'Lyra's house
The blue wearing girl peered out her window and thought about her blonde friend. 'I wonder what you are doing now Naruto. Did you pass? Did you fail?' she sighed. 'Naruto must have passed. He'll be crushed if he didn't. But I'll miss him at school every day. We've known each for eight years now.' She fiddled with her long brown hair. 'Well, if Naruto passes I will celebrate with him. If he doesn't I will be there for him to console him. The last few days he has done his best to hide it but I could see how his muscles were wound up like a spring. He was as tense as could be. I'm worried.'
T'Lyra's Mother Anuak came in and saw her daughter staring off into space. 'She is concerned.' "T'Lyra; are you thinking about Naruto again?"
The daughter whipped around surprised. "Oh, Mother! You startled me. I was just wondering how Naruto's entrance exams at the Vulcan Science Academy are going. I'd call him but the test is supposed to be an all day event. He probably has his communicator off. I'm hoping to hear from him later in the evening."
"I'm sure you'll hear from him by tomorrow." said T'Lyra's Mother. "If he doesn't pass he probably won't want to discuss it so be patient with him T'Lyra."
T'Lyra nodded. "You are correct of course. I'll leave my communicator on just in case." Her communicator beeped about that time and the blue wearing girl nearly jumped and snatched her device off the table. She nearly groaned, "It's Kesh…"
Listening to her daughter explain to Kesh that T'Lyra hadn't heard from Naruto either, Anuak quietly excused herself to give her daughter some privacy…
…
T'Ara and Sovar's house
Sovar was pacing back and forth wondering how Naruto was doing while his daughter Talok played Kal-toh serenely in the living room floor. The four year old said, "Daddy, why are you worried? Naruto is so smart he should pass easily…assuming he doesn't decide to prank the proctors. Do think he will? Mama will not be happy if he does."
Naruto's Father nearly face faulted at the thought of his son pulling off something crazy and getting banned from the Vulcan Science Academy. 'Please don't do something insane Naruto…' he silently prayed.
Talok finished creating a lobsided, egg shaped sphere playing Kal-toh and chirped, "Perfect! Come look Daddy. I'll dance to celebrate!"
Sovar watched fondly as Talok did her own interpretive dance of a V-shan routine. He mused to himself, 'I wonder if Talok could become a dancer some day? I know Mother's line had several dancers in it although none of them are as pretty as my little girl.'
Father and daughter heard the noise of the family hovercraft as it pulled up out front. Both of them immediately shot over to the front window with identical expressions as they smushed their faces against the transparent aluminum windows to get a better look. T'Ara hopped of the hovercraft and immediately saw her husband and daughter putting hand and face prints on the front window. She would ordinarily would have been concerned with cleaning up the windows but was in too good of a mood to care at this point. Naruto got out and she immediately motioned him towards the trunk to get his school uniforms, Vulcan Science Academy tablet and the rest of the heap of things he'd received for his enrollment. The blonde's head was spinning a bit with all of his new belongings. T'Ara then led her heavily laden son into the house.
Sovar met them at the door with Talok and the little girl said, "Naruto, what's all that stuff? Did you pass?!"
Naruto peered down over all of his new belongings and took them over to the couch where he set the pile down. He smiled and said, "I passed and I placed third out of the eighty-seven in my class."
Talok's onyx eyes flashed and she said in her cute little voice, "Why weren't you first?" It took everything Naruto had not to face fault.
Sovar hugged Naruto and said, "That's my boy! I knew you would do well! We should celebrate."
T'Ara picked up Talok and said, "Your brother did amazingly well Talok. All things considered he did more than first and second place did. Besides, he can always move up in the rankings."
"How should we celebrate then?" Sovar asked his family. "I was so concerned with the entry exams themselves that I didn't think about afterwards."
"We could dance!" said Talok excitedly.
"Maybe it would be better to go to a restaurant Naruto likes." said T'Ara to her daughter.
Sovar nodded, "Perhaps Naruto would like to invite his friends along. What do you think Naruto? Do you want to call T'Lyra and Kesh? I'm sure they would like to congratulate you. It isn't every day that you get into the Vulcan Science Academy."
Talok looked over and said, "Naruto?"
The blonde was sleeping peacefully on the couch…
…
The next day Naruto's family and friends celebrated the blonde's entry into a new phase of his life. For T'Lyra and Kesh it was a bittersweet time. They were immensely pleased for Naruto's sake but it was also a sign that their childhood years were quickly coming to an end…
Naruto was surrounded by extended family as well and his Grandmother Sarissa gave him some of the things from T'Ara's days at the Academy years before. Naruto was very pleased with the many gifts he received. Most of them were study aids, books and other practical things for the Academy but Naruto accepted them all with gratitude.
"My son is growing up so fast." thought Sovar aloud.
Varek said to her son, "It seems like only yesterday that he passed his Kahs-wan. I can't believe he's moving away to the dorms. My little grandson is moving away and becoming an adult so fast!"
"He's only moving five kilometers away." said T'Ara. "Even if it's required, living in the dorms will teach him about living independently and being more responsible with his life."
"It is fortunate my old speeder bike*④ was still in storage so Naruto can easily get to and from home easily." said Sovar conversationally.
"I really don't like the idea of Naruto riding that vehicle." said T'Ara. "I never felt safe with you riding it Sovar."
Sovar said, "You worry far too much my wife. It got me around safely for years."
"And how many times did you nearly die on that moving deathtrap?" asked T'Ara dryly.
…
Outside…
Naruto was looking over his Father's old bike. It was a rust colored vehicle that had an excessive amount of wear from being ridden hard in the desert for many years. "I'll have to get a license and bring this bike up to safety standards. It appears quite worn in areas. It seems that over a decade of sandblasting in the desert wore a lot of components out."
T'Lyra was sitting on the bike and said, "It seems you have yet another hobby to learn about Naruto. Does this bike actually run?"
"According to Father it did ten years ago when it was put in storage." said Naruto dubiously. "Whether that has any bearing on the present is debatable."
"What is this?" asked Kesh eagerly.
Naruto looked at his manual and said, "That appears to be a leaking coolant head Kesh."
Kesh scratched his chin. "What about that part?"
The blonde looked at the contraption and then raised an eyebrow before he looked back and forth at the schematics and the manual a few times. "That appears to be some sort of non-standard modification to the throttle control. I doubt it's legal." 'Only you Father…'
T'Lyra had amusement in her brown eyes. "It seems that you have a talent for spotting broken things Kesh. How ironically appropriate."
Kesh nearly face faulted before he said, "Let's fire it up Naruto. I want to hear it run."
The blue wearing girl said dubiously, "This bike looks more likely to burst into flames than start up Kesh."
"But T'Lyra…!" started the long haired boy.
"I believe T'Lyra has made a fair assessment." said Naruto. "I need to thoroughly go through the diagnostics before attempting to start it."
Kesh was obviously excited. "Well get to it man! I want to ride it."
"Considering the way you ride dzharels that might be a disaster Kesh." said T'Lyra. "Let's get it into shape so Naruto can test it out…with a proper license of course."
Naruto nodded. "That seems to be the most logical course of action. Are you both sure you want to help? I'm certain this will be a filthy job with lots of hard physical labor."
"Of course!" said T'Lyra. "It will be enjoyable working together."
"Count me in." said Kesh.
"Then this will be my weekend project while I go to the Academy during the week." said Naruto.
Naruto's parents came out and saw the three kids examining the bike. Catching the tail end of the children's conversation T'Ara said, "Just remember your schoolwork always takes precedence over that old bike Naruto."
Sovar asked, "So have you started it up yet?"
"We've determined that it might burst into flames rather than start." said Naruto. "It would be logical to err on the side of caution."
Sovar deflated and said, "You are truly your Mother's son."
T'Ara simply gave one of her tiny smiles…
…
POSTSCRIPT:
*①: Dzharels are just described as 'horse like creatures' so their coloration, behavior, etc. is pretty much my imagination and non canon. I'm also using horse terms mare, foal, etc. to describe them.
*②: Vuzh means 'Smoke' in Vulcan.
*③: Zefram Cochrane was the human that invented warp technology for Earth. So what is the Cochrane Principle Theorem? It's a warp powered plot device your author made up.
*④: I'll be expanding on the details later but it looks similar to a swoop bike in Star Wars.
Well, it seems Naruto's world has changed a great deal overnight as he is now enrolled in the Vulcan Science Academy. Next chapter Naruto will start dealing with the horrors of dorm life. He also will be learning to ride a speeder bike in the meantime. Will he live to tell the tale? See you next time. Blue out. 8/5/23