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Pride and Logic Chapter 17

 

Spock exited the lecture hall, his PADD tucked securely under one arm. His presentation had been superb, as he expected. His theories on tenth generation artificial intelligence were well received by his colleagues. What he had not expected was the deluge of thoughtful and informative questions and suggestions that had followed his presentation. The lecture was scheduled to conclude at 1200 hours, in time for the mid-day meal break.   It was now 1400 hours. Spock did not mind foregoing the afternoon meal in favor of such stimulating discourse. Vulcans did not require more than two meals per day for optimal performance. Spock had taken to consuming the mid day meal in deference to his human colleagues at the Academy. However, he had scheduled to take the midday meal with Shuran and Spock was always mindful of his commitments. He was able to send Shuran a quick text message rescheduling their rendezvous for 1415 hours. Even with the extra two-hour allotment, Spock was forced to end the discussion in favor of further subspace communications at a later date. 

 

Just as he rounded the corner on his way to the turbolift, Spock was forced to come to a sudden stop to avoid a collision. His new companion was not as aware of the imminent danger. Lacking Spock’s acute reflexes, the Orion woman stumbled and would have collided with the ground had Spock not caught her mid fall.

 

“Commander Spock!” Gaila exclaimed as she quickly recovered herself and came to attention.

 

“Cadet Gaila,” Spock greeted her with a curt nod. “You should be more mindful of your surroundings if you insist on traversing the halls at such a high rate of speed.”

 

“Yes sir. Sorry sir. I am late for my next lecture…” Gaila stammered, her green cheeks flushed.

 

“Excuses are unproductive, Cadet.”

 

“Yes sir. Sorry sir,” Gaila stammered.

 

“As you were.”

 

Gaila nodded tersely before continuing toward her lecture. Spock watched the cadet’s retreat. He was not aware that she would be in attendance, as her name had not been listed among the other 450 attendees.  Spock conjectured that Shuran was also unaware of her presence at the conference. He knew that his friend was still besotted with the Orion woman and that news of her presence at the conference would be most welcome. While Spock now knew that his previous assumptions regarding the depth of Gaila’s feelings for his friend had been in error, he still felt that it would be unwise for Shuran to revive their relationship.

 

Yet, Spock could not discount Nyota’s previous censure regarding his highhanded approach to his friends. Surely, Shuran possessed enough wisdom to carefully consider the pros and cons of pursuing a relationship with a cadet—an Orion no less—and make an informed decision. While Spock felt that he had not been in error to point out the clear disadvantages of such an alliance, he would be remiss in concealing Cadet Gaila’s presence at the conference.

 

********************

 

Nyota sat curled on a low settee in her parent’s den, a steaming mug of tea cupped in her hands, as she listened to her friend enthuse about one Lieutenant-Commander Shuran. Nyota could not prevent the broad smile that graced her face as she listened to Gaila talk about her reunion with Shuran. Nyota had not seen Gaila so happy or energetic in such a long time.

 

“I thought I would die after I ran into Commander Spock,” Gaila said as she launched into another recitation of her chance encounter with the Vulcan professor. “He was so handsome and strong. Did you know he picked me up off of the floor with one hand?  It was like I weighed a pound. Too bad you sent that hot piece of meat packing…”

 

Uhura’s smile faltered. Her shift in mood did not go unnoticed by Gaila.

 

“Oh, I am sorry Ny-Ny! I didn’t mean to bring up that whole messy business. I just got carried away.”

 

“It’s alright, Gaila,” Nyota sighed as she picked absently at her blouse. “You don’t have to walk on egg shells around me.  I am just happy that you and Shuran are on the mend.”

 

Gaila’s bright smile returned. “Well, we aren’t quite back to where we were. I had to give him a little hell for disappearing on me like he did. But, he is awfully good at groveling.” She wagged her eyebrows suggestively.

 

“Please, spare me the details!”

 

“What?” Gaila exclaimed feigning innocence. “He gives me foot massages.”

 

“Hmmm.”

 

“Very erotic foot massages,” Gaila added with a smirk. “You know there is this certain spot in the middle of the arch on the Orion foot that causes the most delicious sensations…”

 

“Ewww,” Nyota cried nearly dropping her mug. “I’ve given you foot massages! All those times when you complained about sore feet from breaking in a new pair of boots was just an excuse for something kinky.”

 

Gaila laughed deviously.

 

“I’m just messing with you, Ny. I’d never take advantage of you in that way. Besides, you have to press really hard on the pressure point and you just don’t have the strength.”

 

Gaila laughed at Nyota’s incredulous look before sobering.

 

“He has asked about you, you know.”

 

“Shuran?”

 

Gaila rolled her eyes. “No dumb, dumb. Spock.”

 

“Oh. About what?”

 

“The usual. About your health and what not. He has been very solicitous and almost kind to me. I think you are the reason for that.”

 

Uhura shifted in her seat, pulling her thin shawl tighter around her shoulders. No matter how much Gaila insisted on introducing this topic of conversation, Nyota was determined not to bite.

 

“So, the big dinner is tonight. Are you ready to meet the parents?”

 

Gaila glared at her friend, not fooled one bit by her attempt to change the subject.

 

“Just a little,” she replied. “But Shuran assures me that his parent’s are very eager to meet me, especially the Ambassador. But you know me, no one intimidates me.”

 

“Have you packed a hypospray of digestive aid just in case?”

 

“I am sure that the Ambassador’s table will have plenty of items suitable for the Orion palette,” Gaila replied. “Besides, I sort of developed a taste for Andorian food. I really hope the Ambassador serves dergy puffs.”

 

“Dergy puffs?” Nyota asked, her face scrunched up in distaste. “What on earth are those?”

 

“They are these pastry like concoctions popular with the Aenobian people on the southern hemisphere. Imagine a crunchy sour donut filled with a spicy anchovy hazelnut cream with a tangerine dipping sauce,” Gaila replied, her pink tongue darting over her orange stained lips in anticipation.

 

Uhura nearly gagged. “Nothing about that description sounds remotely appealing.”

 

“Chica, where is your sense of adventure? I thought you wanted to be part of the flagship of the fleet encountering new civilizations? And you can’t even handle a little Andorian pastry.”

 

“My sense of adventure is firmly intact, thank you,” Uhura replied with a sniff. “I’ll happily try anything once. But I know for a fact that Andorian food and I do not mix.”

 

Gaila laughed. “Do you remember that time we went to that Tellerite diner that opened up spring quarter?”

 

“Oh, goodness,” Nyota groaned.

 

“I’ll never forget the look on your face when they brought out that platter of candied puka grubs with a dung dipping sauce.”

 

“I’ll never forget the smell,” Nyota added.

 

“You…you took one look at that platter and ran out of that shop like a bear was on your tail!”

 

Gaila laughed, her cheeks flushing in her mirth while Nyota shook her head.

 

“And do you remember when Aunt Tonya visited us and took us to Shirley’s Soul Food Café? You ordered the chitterlings and hogshead cheese…”

 

“Oh merciful one,” Gaila laughed as she shook her head. “I thought that was the best thing I’d ever eaten since chocolate mousse until Auntie explained to me what parts of what animal I was happily consuming.”

 

Nyota’s smile broadened. “You turned purple…I still don’t understand how you managed that…before you pushed me out of the booth onto the floor and ran to the bathroom.”

 

“That’s still my favorite restaurant,” Gaila said once their laughter died down. “Speaking of Aunt Tonya, your big trip is right around the corner. I know I can’t wait to babysit my favorite human cousins.”

 

Nyota smiled. “Apparently Little Ray-ray and twins have been bugging Auntie every day about when they’ll get to see you. They never get that excited when it is just me they are coming to see.”

 

“That is because you are too strict with them,” Gaila replied. “Plus you aren’t green. I think Ray-ray is still fascinated by the whole green-chick thing.”

 

“You mean enthralled. I think he has a crush on you.”

 

Gaila chuckled. “I know. He asked me to marry him last summer, you know.”

 

“I hope you let him down easy.”

 

“I couldn’t break his little heart like that. He is so adorable with his lisp and peanut shaped head,” Gaila replied with a grin. “I told him to ask me again when he was thirty.”

 

“Well, Mom will certainly appreciate the help.”

 

“Are you ready for your trip to Vulcan?”

 

Nyota frowned. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”

 

“Well, I have a bit of news that might be a relief to you. Shuran informs me that he and Spock are planning to return to the Academy shortly after the conference ends. Apparently, Commander Spock has been so inspired by the conference that he can’t wait to get back to his lab to try some new experiments.”

 

Nyota perked up. “So he won’t be visiting his parents this summer break?”

 

“Nope,” Gaila replied, loudly popping the “p.” “Also, it is pretty rare for Spock to go home anyway. There was some falling out between him and his father a few years back.”

 

Nyota felt an odd mixture of relief and sadness. She could now look to her coming vacation with some anticipation knowing that she could avoid encountering the commander for another month at least. Yet, she wondered at the cause of the familial discord that kept Spock from his childhood home. She wondered if their estrangement was related to Sybok’s betrayal. However, Spock and his father appeared to be on one accord regarding his banishment from Vulcan.  Nyota could not imagine not being welcome at her parent’s home.

 

How lonely Spock must be. He effectively had no brother and was not welcome at his parent’s home. He had few friends at Starfleet other than Shuran and Captain Pike. Most of the student body and a good portion of the faculty thought he was a cold, emotionless jerk. However, Nyota knew the warmth and depth of emotion that lay beneath his stone façade. She felt ashamed once again for her harsh rejection of his suit. She did not know if she would have given him a different reply knowing what she did now, but Nyota imagined that the manner of her reply would have been quite different.

 

*************

 

Nyota stood on the front porch, her arm linked with Gaila’s as they waited for the arrival of Aunt Tonya and Uncle Jomo. Her Uncle Jomo was notoriously afraid of using the teleporter, so her father had to drive to the Nairobi spaceport to pick them up.

 

“I wonder if their flight was late,” her mother said as she stepped out onto the porch to join them, her hands gripping a tray laden with cool water and mango slices.

 

“I checked their flight status a half hour ago, Mrs. U,” Gaila replied as she picked up one of the glasses of water. “There was no mention of flight delays.”

 

“You know little Keisha,” Nyota replied. “She probably begged Baba to stop for camel milk ice cream as soon as they pulled out of the airport.”

 

“And Mr. U hates for people to eat in his flitter, especially messy children,” Gaila added. “Keisha and Kaylee are notoriously slow eaters.”

 

“Throw in another bathroom break and you have an hour’s delay.”

 

Penda Uhura sighed. “I suppose you girls are right. I just can’t wait to see my brother Jomo.”

 

Nyota reached over and squeezed her mother’s hand just as a familiar hum signaled the arrival of her father’s flitter. Her mother clapped her hands happily and jumped from one foot to another. Nyota laughed at her mother’s excitement before following the shorter woman off of the porch as she ran towards the landing flitter.

 

“Little sister,” Uncle Jomo’s voice boomed as he exited the flitter. “How plump you are getting.”

 

Penda poked her brother in the belly. “And how round you are, big brother.”

 

“The better to hug you with, Penny,” he laughed before catching the smaller woman in a big bear hug, lifting her feet off of the ground as she laughed.

 

Nyota watched her uncle and mother in delight before the sound of squealing children drew her attention elsewhere.

 

“Cousin Enie! Cousin Enie,” the twins shouted as they ran towards Nyota, their skinny little arms wrapping around her legs when they reached her.

 

Nyota smiled as she bent down to hug her cousins. “Keisha and Kaylee, how big you are getting. I hardly recognized you,” she cooed.

 

The twins giggled.

 

“Mommy says that soon we will be as tall as you Enie,” Kaylee replied.

 

“I lost two teeth, Enie,” Keisha added, sticking the tip of her pink tongue through the gap once filled by her two front teeth. “Soon I’ll have all my big-girl teeth!”

 

Nyota laughed as she gently pet both girls, careful not to squish the afro puff arranged neatly on the tops of their heads. “Where is your brother?”

 

“He fell asleep because he is a baby,” Kaylee replied. “But Keisha and I are big girls, so we stayed up the entire trip.”

 

Nyota looked up in time to see her Aunt Tonya step out of the flitter with the aid of her father, a groggy Raymond clutched in her arms.

 

“Time to wake up, little man,” Aunt Tonya said as she jostled the child. “We’re at Aunt Penda’s. Your Uncle Tobasi and Cousin Nyota are here with Gaila.”

 

“Gaila,” Raymond slurred as he stirred in his mother’s arms. “Where’s Gaila?”

 

“I’m right here, Peanut,” Gaila replied laughingly as she stepped towards the boy, giving Aunt Tonya a quick peck on the cheek.

 

“I got a flower for your hair.” Raymond opened his little fist to reveal a crushed lily, the white petals bruised with the indentations of his fingers.

 

“He refused to let it go the entire way here,” Aunt Tonya said. “He wouldn’t trust anyone with his present for Gaila.”

 

“It’s lovely, Peanut,” Gaila said as she took the crumpled blossom from his hand.

 

Raymond smiled sleepily before burrowing his face back into the crook of his mother’s neck.

 

Gaila and Nyota hung back as the family party repaired to the house to escape the late afternoon sun.

 

“See, I told you he has a crush,” Nyota teased as she took her friend by the arm. “You are going to have your hands full when he reaches 30.”

 

“Something tells me that in twenty-five years he won’t find me so appealing.”

 

Nyota laughed as they entered the house together. The next four days would prove to be very entertaining. As the sounds of shouting children and her parent’s laughter reached her ears, she wished that she could trade places with Gaila.

 

*********

 

“You are anxious, Ny-Ny,” Aunt Tonya said, interrupting Nyota from her contemplation of the stars outside of their cabin window.

 

They were only three days away from Vulcan and Nyota could no longer hide her trepidation. While Gaila’s news that Spock would not be on Vulcan during her brief sojourn there, she still could not help but to be fearful of her reception by Spock’s family. Of the billions of sentient beings living and working on the Vulcan, why did her aunt have to be bosom buddies with Amanda Grayson?

 

“I guess I am just nervous about meeting the Ambassador,” Nyota lied.

 

Aunt Tonya settled on the small settee next to Nyota, putting one arm around her shoulders. Nyota leaned into the embrace, taking in her aunt’s comforting lavender scent.

 

“Ambassador Sarek is very used to humans, Ny. He is the ambassador to Earth and married to a human, after all. Besides, I’ve told you that Amanda is really looking forward to having us stay at her home. So, will you tell me what is really worrying you?”

 

Nyota sat up with a dramatic sigh. “I may have had a rather big disagreement with the Ambassador’s son.”

 

“I see. Amanda did mention that her son was in Starfleet. Was he an instructor of yours?”

 

“Yes. I had a seminar with him. I’ll just say that we clashed quite a bit and our relationship did not end on the best terms.”

 

“Well, I doubt that some academic spat would make Amanda think any less of you. I am sure that you are worried for nothing.”

 

Nyota threw her aunt a smile that did not quite reach her eyes. “I am sure you are right, Auntie.”

 

“Good. Now lets go find your Uncle Jomo. Its almost time for dinner and I’ll need your help prying him away from the card tables on the entertainment deck.”

 

******************

Nyota took a deep breath as she stepped out of the climate-controlled spaceport into the heat of the Vulcan afternoon. The last two days of their journey had been spent in their cabins acclimating to the higher gravity that they would experience planetside. Uhura briefly wished that she had also thought to adjust the temperature of her cabin. While she had grown up in a hot and dry climate in Kenya, the heat of Vulcan was still uncomfortable for her. Fortunately, Lady Amanda’s servant was already waiting for them in the designated spot, standing gravely by a luxury flitter.

 

Aunt Tonya whistled. “Mandy is certainly doing well for herself, isn’t she, Jomo?”

 

Her uncle smiled. “Do you regret marrying a poor professor rather than a prince, Tonya?”

 

“Not for a second,” Aunt Tonya replied, before placing a quick peck on Uncle Jomo’s cheek.

 

Nyota’s eyes darted to Lady Amanda’s servant who stood silently observing them from his place by the flitter. Nyota knew that such a public display was considered a tremendous breech of decorum. However, if the servant was offended, his placid features did not betray his feelings.

 

“Welcome to Shi’Kahr, Mr. and Mrs. Uhura,” the servant said as he bent his head towards them. “I am Seved, servant of Ambassador Sarek and Lady Amanda.”

 

Uncle Jomo raised his hand in the ta’al as he deftly replied in Vulcan, “Ne-shau.”

 

Seved gave Uncle Jomo a minute nod of his head. “Stariben-tu muhul na’komihn.”

 

Nemaiyo,” Uncle Jomo replied uncertainly as he moved to assist Seved in loading their luggage into the flitter.

 

“Your uncle has been practicing with a Vulcan phrasebook for the last two months,” Aunt Tonya whispered to Nyota as she threaded her arm through hers. “All he can say is ‘hello,’ ‘thank you,’ and ‘live long and prosper.’ Jomo didn’t understand a word he said.”

 

Uhura giggled and quickly hid her smile behind her hand at her uncle’s curious glance. Nyota and Tonya were the linguists in the family. Her uncle was much more comfortable with equations than he was with alien tongues.

 

Nyota spent the brief flitter ride staring out of the window with wide eyes. Shi’Kahr was a beautiful city. White stone buildings built a millennium ago of years old shared the skyline with modern structures of metal and glass, their harsh angles and jutting roofs harkening back to a time when Vulcan culture was as harsh and untamed as the mountainous desert landscape. Modern skyscrapers rose in elegant spires high above the city streets, their glass walls reflecting the red earth and orange tinted sky. The streets were largely deserted, save for a few Vulcans who braved the unforgiving mid-day sun, walking sedately in flowing robes, their heads held high beneath elegant parasols.

 

Soon they left the city proper, trading skyscrapers for low-lying estates surrounded by farmland crisscrossed with clear irrigation pipes. In the distance Nyota could make out a mountain range, its white tops towering high above the red earth.

 

“It is a beautiful country, is it not, Enie?” Uncle Jomo asked from his seat across from her.

 

Nyota returned her gaze to the window, watching the harsh landscape that wasn’t so alien.

 

“Very.”

 

“We are now entering the ancestral lands of the Sch T’gai clan,” Seved informed them over the intercom. “We shall arrive at the main abode in 22.75 minutes.”

 

Nyota shared a quick look with her aunt.

 

“Just how much land does Amanda’s family own?” Uncle Jomo asked, voicing Nyota’s unasked question.

 

“Apparently a great deal,” Tonya murmured as she looked out of the window.

 

***********

 

Ponfo mirran,” Sybok shouted as he entered his apartment. He ripped off his leather overcoat and flung the offending article of clothing onto the floor.

 

Verna Ugway, the very wealthy and vapid Kriosian woman whom he had so carefully wooed had suddenly broken off their engagement. Her father, Lorvid Ugway had threatened to cut her off from her inheritance if she continued their relationship.  Apparently, Mr. Ugway had cause to doubt Sybok’s good character.  No amount of pleading or mental persuasion would change his situation. Verna was at the mercy of her father’s whims until the old man died. Twenty-five million credits had just slipped through his fingers.

 

Sybok punched the wall, grimacing as the plaster crumbled underneath his fist. He could not understand how his carefully laid plans could end so poorly. Lorvid Ugway was even more stupid and unsuspecting than his daughter. Sybok had no need to mentally persuade Lorvid Ugway into accepting him as a future son-in-law. A few obsequious compliments had assured that Sybok was in his good graces. Lorvid did not even think to doubt the background Sybok had crafted for himself; that is until recently. Someone must have meddled in his affairs.

 

Sybok stormed into his kitchenette and removed a bottle of Romulan ale from the cabinet. He hastily uncorked the bottle and took a generous swig of the sapphire blue liquid. The liquor burned down his throat.

 

He could think of only one person who knew of his engagement to Verna and had the knowledge and motive to expose him.

 

 “Am I to have no good thing, p’sa’kai,” Sybok snarled as he wiped a hand across his mouth.

 

Sybok downed the entire contents of the bottle as he stalked back into the living room, ignoring the fire that pooled in his belly. He threw the empty bottle against the wall and sat heavily in an armchair, his brow creased as he thought of a fitting revenge. An image of his little wide-eyed cadet with raven hair and sable skin brought a cruel smile to his lips. He rose from his seat, his mind devising a new plan of action as he picked up his discarded coat and walked out of the door.

 

“You will regret the day that you crossed me, p’sa’kai.”

 

Glossary:

Ta’al= hand gesture used as a greeting by Vulcans

Ne-shau= Greetings

Stariben-tu muhul na’komihn= Vulcan for “You speak well for a human.”

Nemaiyo= thank you

Shi’Kahr= major Vulcan city

Ponfo mirra= Vulcan expletive

Pi’sa’kai= little brother












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Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.