A Pragmatic Theory of Truth - 22/25
Jul. 29th, 2010 11:54 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
leandraholmesTitle: A Pragmatic Theory of Truth
Chapter: 22 of 25 (1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21)
Word count: 1874 (~ 55,000 in total)
Authors:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
petbubble and leandralocke
Genre: Romance
Rating: PG - NC-17
Summary: One and a half years before the destruction of Vulcan, Spock meets an extraordinary young cadet during a lecture at Starfleet Academy. Their initial encounter is brief but intense, and affects both of them in ways they could never have imagined.
Authors' notes Thanks toblueeyed_secret for beta-reading.
This is our first multi-chapter Spock/Uhura fic, but it has been completed for a while. We are currently already working on follow-ups, so there's no need to worry that this might never be completed. We're just editing it chapter by chapter and having it beta-read now and should post a new chapter every few days.
The story is also online at Fanfiction.net
It was only the second time this semester that Spock actually got a chance to speak to Captain Pike, and same as the last time he was fairly certain it wasn't just for a friendly chat that he had been invited to. One thing, however, was different than the last time and Spock had to remind himself that whatever the captain's orders would be, he should not be surprised or even regret it if it meant leaving Earth again – short or long term. Only that telling himself that seemed a lot easier than actually feeling it. Things had changed drastically in his life since Pike's last visit to Earth, and even though no moment in the near future would be more ideal he did wish he and Nyota would have had more time.
However, he did not allow himself to be worried about possible consequences yet as he didn't know what exactly he was facing, and so he was calm when he arrived at Pike's private quarters at nineteen-hundred where he had been ordered to attend after this afternoon's fleet meeting with the Admiral and all commanding officers was over.
He was welcomed at the door by a young cadet – from his age, Spock guessed, in his first year, drafted in to assist visiting senior officers. A pool of such cadets was always on standby and they were generally used to run errands or provide basic administration support. As Spock entered the quarters he heard Pike's voice call from the main room: "If that's Commander Spock, Travis, you can head off now. And get that ethics essay completed." The young man called his thanks to the captain, and nodded as Spock passed him, securing the door as he left.
"Come on in here, Spock. You'll have to forgive the mess I'm afraid – I've been trying to get through all those reports that the Admiral likes to give me."
Which was quite natural, since subspace transmissions were not always ensured or took too long to reach their destination if a starship was far away from its home base. Spock did not point that out, however, since it was quite obvious. Nodding at the senior officer, he came closer. "What is it you wanted to see me about?" he asked. Many humans would have felt slightly offended or disappointed at least for the lack of pleasantries, but after two years under his command Spock knew Pike didn't expect polite small talk from him.
Pike was lounging in an armchair in a corner of the quarters. Although the quarters allocated to senior officers visiting the Academy were marginally larger than those provided for teaching staff and cadets, due to the very temporary nature of their use they were more sparsely furnished. A small side table, next to the captain's chair was crowded with a PADD, several folders and a crystal-cut tumbler filled with a liquid Spock could not immediately identify.
"Spock, I know you like to stand, but sit – please. We're both off duty, but you're making me feel like I should be standing up, son," Pike said cheerfully, picking up the glass and taking a sip before gesturing slightly towards Spock with the drink. "Speaking of 'at ease' – care to join me? It's not often I get to enjoy a Scotch, especially Earthside, but I'd welcome the company if you choose."
"You know that alcohol has no effect on me?" Spock asked, although he was fairly certain the captain had picked up on that fact. Nevertheless he nodded and sat down in the adjacent chair, watching the captain pour the amber colored liquid in a second glass,a look of slight amusement visible in his features. "Thank you." Spock picked the glass up from the table and took a small sip. Compared to other beverages with a similar concentration of alcohol whiskey offered a richer and more varied blend of flavors, in this case malty, peaty and slightly smoky. A quite interesting drink, at the least.
Setting the glass down on the table beside him, Pike rested his elbows on the chair arms, regarding Spock with a slight narrowing of his eyes. "You're perfectly aware that I didn't ask you over tonight to discuss alcoholic beverages. Command has been requested to send a ship out to the Pega system. The scientists in the Vogel 7 colony have been picking up some anomalous readings from their sun and have asked for someone else to have a look for them. We – well, the Enterprise – has been selected as the lucky 'someone'." Pike selected a folder from the pile on the table, flicked through it and offered it to Spock. "Command feels that, since the old girl will be replaced by the new flagship model next spring, we could do with one last run out before being grounded. How about it? The mission's gonna take about three months and I could do with a decent science officer on board," he continued, a smirk on his face.
Three months. A manageable time-period that would allow him to resume his work as an instructor after the summer term where there were no lectures. Spock felt content about the news, even… relieved.
"Thank you, Captain. You can expect my attendance. The mission should not collide with my assignments for next semester," he said, nodding, but then tilted his head slightly. "I was not aware of the ship being replaced, however."
"Apparently she'd need a complete overhaul to match current standards. Total systems re-vamp, the engineers are telling me. So they decided to build a brand new ship, and I only learned today that Starfleet intends put my old girl to rest permanently. Means I'll either be assigned here on Earth or onto another ship for at least 6 months while they finish her," Pike took another sip of his drink as he settled back into his chair. "Can't say I'm looking forward to it either, but if it means I'll be up there again with a much better ship, then it's a price I'm willing to pay."
He leaned forward then, a more serious look on his face and spoke quietly: "Between you and me, Spock? After the Achilles episode, Starfleet Command are a little twitchy about relations outside the Federation. I think they want us to have a look out there while we're up – check what the Klingons are up to and this Vogel 7 business is just a sideline."
Spock raised an eyebrow at the captain, wondering if it was a wise thing to do to get anywhere near the Klingons after what had happened earlier this year. A wrong move at the wrong time - even if the intention was a justifiable one - could trigger a war with the Empire. However, it was not his place to questions Stafleet Command's orders and plans.
"Vogel 7 is 0.673 light years from Klingon territory. Have there been any sightings of Klingon vessels in the area or the Pega system?" he asked.
Pike shook his head, then shrugged lightly. "Officially? No. Officially – the Empire has been very quiet after Starfleet Command apologized very diplomatically for the Achilles misunderstanding. However…" the captain paused, lifting the PADD from beside him and scrolling down the screen for a moment, his brow furrowed in concentration. Apparently finding what he had been looking for, Pike then tapped the PADD on his knee whilst looking into Spock's general direction, though it was obvious his gaze was not on his preferred first officer.
Raising an eyebrow and focusing again on Spock, Pike spoke softly as he turned the PADD towards Spock: "There have been rumors of something happening out there. No-one knows for sure, but the thought is that it's the Klingons so we're being asked to do some…reconnaissance. This report should explain more – eyes only, Commander."
"Understood", Spock said and skimmed the data on Pike's PADD. Indeed, the information seemed alarming and furthermore quite mysterious, although he could not yet form a founded theory on the missing vessels and other incidents that were listed in the file. For that, he still didn't have enough information. "When do you plan to leave?"
"Hmm? Sorry?" Pike looked up from the report he was reading and paused, reviewing what Spock had just asked him before replying. "Looks like it'll be the end of next week – 10 days at most. I have a few 'events' to attend whilst I'm here, and the Academy staff are wanting me to start reviewing cadet references before we head off," he sighed and rubbed the top of his nose. Casually throwing the report he was holding to the floor, he picked his glass up and drained the remaining whiskey, sighing a little in apparent enjoyment.
"Speaking of cadet references, son, I'll need you to help me out there. There should be a few names on the list that have crossed your path, and as we'll be fighting for the cream of next year's graduates with ships like the Farragut I want a heads up on who the best in each field are. Any potentials from what you've seen so far?"
"Yes Captain, there are a few of my students that I would recommend. An Orion cadet, Gaila Sar is very skilled in computer programming. There are two or three more I would consider on various fields, and..." He paused for a moment, wondering if it would be wise recommending Nyota. But then again the doubt was only due to their relationship and not to any lack of skills and talent. She was his most distinguished student when it came to analyzing subspace transmissions and interpreting foreign languages. "Another cadet that is majoring in Xenolinguistics. Her name is Nyota Uhura. Her skills are unparalleled and she would make an excellent assisting officer in the communications department."
"Unparalleled eh? No small praise from you of all people – she must be good. Well, keep an eye out for their names when the Academy sends the references through, will you?" Pike turned his attention back to his PADD, clearly satisfied that the matter of cadet selection was temporarily off his shoulders. He looked up again, a thoughtful expression on his face. "Have you come across a cadet called Kirk while you've been here? I doubt he'll have taken any of your classes, but I'm just wondering what the word is on him. Met him a few years ago, and the boy's got potential…good command material, I thought."
Spock couldn't help feeling his eyebrow raising in a non-approving, non-fascinated or surprised way, unpleasantly reminded of the one time he had come across Kirk. The only thing he would be able to say about him was that in his eyes Kirk seemed to be arrogant, chauvinist, impolite and immature – clearly no qualities required of a Starfleet officer, let alone one to serve on the most prestigious ship known in the Federation. In fact, Spock assumed, if it weren't for his heroic father Kirk wouldn't even have raised Pike's interest.
"We are not acquainted," he replied truthfully, as the one-sided, involuntary encounter hardly qualified as making someone's acquaintance. "But I will keep an eye out for him."
He definitely would.
~ TBC ~
Chapter 23
A/N: First of apologies for the HUGE delay in posting. We've had some problems with finding the last bit of this scene as stupid me has saved the wrong document. And then there were other things on my mind and so on. But from now on no more delays for the last few chapters.
Second, thank you all for reading and reviewing.
Then a note on the content... As mentioned in a previous chapter we didn’t know whether Orions have last names, so we made one up. However, since she's only known to everybody as 'Gaila', we also made Spock think of her as 'Gaila' and not as 'cadet Sar'. Maybe Orions rarely use their last names and are addressed with their first names similar as Vulcans.
And last but not least the Enterprise. Since it says maiden voyage in the movie we now decided that they have been using a previous model and that the ship we later saw in the movie is simply a new one, but still an Enterprise. The same thing happened in several of the ST movies too, so we thought that made sense.
Chapter: 22 of 25 (1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21)
Word count: 1874 (~ 55,000 in total)
Authors:
petbubble and leandralockeGenre: Romance
Rating: PG - NC-17
Summary: One and a half years before the destruction of Vulcan, Spock meets an extraordinary young cadet during a lecture at Starfleet Academy. Their initial encounter is brief but intense, and affects both of them in ways they could never have imagined.
Authors' notes Thanks to
blueeyed_secret for beta-reading. This is our first multi-chapter Spock/Uhura fic, but it has been completed for a while. We are currently already working on follow-ups, so there's no need to worry that this might never be completed. We're just editing it chapter by chapter and having it beta-read now and should post a new chapter every few days.
The story is also online at Fanfiction.net
It was only the second time this semester that Spock actually got a chance to speak to Captain Pike, and same as the last time he was fairly certain it wasn't just for a friendly chat that he had been invited to. One thing, however, was different than the last time and Spock had to remind himself that whatever the captain's orders would be, he should not be surprised or even regret it if it meant leaving Earth again – short or long term. Only that telling himself that seemed a lot easier than actually feeling it. Things had changed drastically in his life since Pike's last visit to Earth, and even though no moment in the near future would be more ideal he did wish he and Nyota would have had more time.
However, he did not allow himself to be worried about possible consequences yet as he didn't know what exactly he was facing, and so he was calm when he arrived at Pike's private quarters at nineteen-hundred where he had been ordered to attend after this afternoon's fleet meeting with the Admiral and all commanding officers was over.
He was welcomed at the door by a young cadet – from his age, Spock guessed, in his first year, drafted in to assist visiting senior officers. A pool of such cadets was always on standby and they were generally used to run errands or provide basic administration support. As Spock entered the quarters he heard Pike's voice call from the main room: "If that's Commander Spock, Travis, you can head off now. And get that ethics essay completed." The young man called his thanks to the captain, and nodded as Spock passed him, securing the door as he left.
"Come on in here, Spock. You'll have to forgive the mess I'm afraid – I've been trying to get through all those reports that the Admiral likes to give me."
Which was quite natural, since subspace transmissions were not always ensured or took too long to reach their destination if a starship was far away from its home base. Spock did not point that out, however, since it was quite obvious. Nodding at the senior officer, he came closer. "What is it you wanted to see me about?" he asked. Many humans would have felt slightly offended or disappointed at least for the lack of pleasantries, but after two years under his command Spock knew Pike didn't expect polite small talk from him.
Pike was lounging in an armchair in a corner of the quarters. Although the quarters allocated to senior officers visiting the Academy were marginally larger than those provided for teaching staff and cadets, due to the very temporary nature of their use they were more sparsely furnished. A small side table, next to the captain's chair was crowded with a PADD, several folders and a crystal-cut tumbler filled with a liquid Spock could not immediately identify.
"Spock, I know you like to stand, but sit – please. We're both off duty, but you're making me feel like I should be standing up, son," Pike said cheerfully, picking up the glass and taking a sip before gesturing slightly towards Spock with the drink. "Speaking of 'at ease' – care to join me? It's not often I get to enjoy a Scotch, especially Earthside, but I'd welcome the company if you choose."
"You know that alcohol has no effect on me?" Spock asked, although he was fairly certain the captain had picked up on that fact. Nevertheless he nodded and sat down in the adjacent chair, watching the captain pour the amber colored liquid in a second glass,a look of slight amusement visible in his features. "Thank you." Spock picked the glass up from the table and took a small sip. Compared to other beverages with a similar concentration of alcohol whiskey offered a richer and more varied blend of flavors, in this case malty, peaty and slightly smoky. A quite interesting drink, at the least.
Setting the glass down on the table beside him, Pike rested his elbows on the chair arms, regarding Spock with a slight narrowing of his eyes. "You're perfectly aware that I didn't ask you over tonight to discuss alcoholic beverages. Command has been requested to send a ship out to the Pega system. The scientists in the Vogel 7 colony have been picking up some anomalous readings from their sun and have asked for someone else to have a look for them. We – well, the Enterprise – has been selected as the lucky 'someone'." Pike selected a folder from the pile on the table, flicked through it and offered it to Spock. "Command feels that, since the old girl will be replaced by the new flagship model next spring, we could do with one last run out before being grounded. How about it? The mission's gonna take about three months and I could do with a decent science officer on board," he continued, a smirk on his face.
Three months. A manageable time-period that would allow him to resume his work as an instructor after the summer term where there were no lectures. Spock felt content about the news, even… relieved.
"Thank you, Captain. You can expect my attendance. The mission should not collide with my assignments for next semester," he said, nodding, but then tilted his head slightly. "I was not aware of the ship being replaced, however."
"Apparently she'd need a complete overhaul to match current standards. Total systems re-vamp, the engineers are telling me. So they decided to build a brand new ship, and I only learned today that Starfleet intends put my old girl to rest permanently. Means I'll either be assigned here on Earth or onto another ship for at least 6 months while they finish her," Pike took another sip of his drink as he settled back into his chair. "Can't say I'm looking forward to it either, but if it means I'll be up there again with a much better ship, then it's a price I'm willing to pay."
He leaned forward then, a more serious look on his face and spoke quietly: "Between you and me, Spock? After the Achilles episode, Starfleet Command are a little twitchy about relations outside the Federation. I think they want us to have a look out there while we're up – check what the Klingons are up to and this Vogel 7 business is just a sideline."
Spock raised an eyebrow at the captain, wondering if it was a wise thing to do to get anywhere near the Klingons after what had happened earlier this year. A wrong move at the wrong time - even if the intention was a justifiable one - could trigger a war with the Empire. However, it was not his place to questions Stafleet Command's orders and plans.
"Vogel 7 is 0.673 light years from Klingon territory. Have there been any sightings of Klingon vessels in the area or the Pega system?" he asked.
Pike shook his head, then shrugged lightly. "Officially? No. Officially – the Empire has been very quiet after Starfleet Command apologized very diplomatically for the Achilles misunderstanding. However…" the captain paused, lifting the PADD from beside him and scrolling down the screen for a moment, his brow furrowed in concentration. Apparently finding what he had been looking for, Pike then tapped the PADD on his knee whilst looking into Spock's general direction, though it was obvious his gaze was not on his preferred first officer.
Raising an eyebrow and focusing again on Spock, Pike spoke softly as he turned the PADD towards Spock: "There have been rumors of something happening out there. No-one knows for sure, but the thought is that it's the Klingons so we're being asked to do some…reconnaissance. This report should explain more – eyes only, Commander."
"Understood", Spock said and skimmed the data on Pike's PADD. Indeed, the information seemed alarming and furthermore quite mysterious, although he could not yet form a founded theory on the missing vessels and other incidents that were listed in the file. For that, he still didn't have enough information. "When do you plan to leave?"
"Hmm? Sorry?" Pike looked up from the report he was reading and paused, reviewing what Spock had just asked him before replying. "Looks like it'll be the end of next week – 10 days at most. I have a few 'events' to attend whilst I'm here, and the Academy staff are wanting me to start reviewing cadet references before we head off," he sighed and rubbed the top of his nose. Casually throwing the report he was holding to the floor, he picked his glass up and drained the remaining whiskey, sighing a little in apparent enjoyment.
"Speaking of cadet references, son, I'll need you to help me out there. There should be a few names on the list that have crossed your path, and as we'll be fighting for the cream of next year's graduates with ships like the Farragut I want a heads up on who the best in each field are. Any potentials from what you've seen so far?"
"Yes Captain, there are a few of my students that I would recommend. An Orion cadet, Gaila Sar is very skilled in computer programming. There are two or three more I would consider on various fields, and..." He paused for a moment, wondering if it would be wise recommending Nyota. But then again the doubt was only due to their relationship and not to any lack of skills and talent. She was his most distinguished student when it came to analyzing subspace transmissions and interpreting foreign languages. "Another cadet that is majoring in Xenolinguistics. Her name is Nyota Uhura. Her skills are unparalleled and she would make an excellent assisting officer in the communications department."
"Unparalleled eh? No small praise from you of all people – she must be good. Well, keep an eye out for their names when the Academy sends the references through, will you?" Pike turned his attention back to his PADD, clearly satisfied that the matter of cadet selection was temporarily off his shoulders. He looked up again, a thoughtful expression on his face. "Have you come across a cadet called Kirk while you've been here? I doubt he'll have taken any of your classes, but I'm just wondering what the word is on him. Met him a few years ago, and the boy's got potential…good command material, I thought."
Spock couldn't help feeling his eyebrow raising in a non-approving, non-fascinated or surprised way, unpleasantly reminded of the one time he had come across Kirk. The only thing he would be able to say about him was that in his eyes Kirk seemed to be arrogant, chauvinist, impolite and immature – clearly no qualities required of a Starfleet officer, let alone one to serve on the most prestigious ship known in the Federation. In fact, Spock assumed, if it weren't for his heroic father Kirk wouldn't even have raised Pike's interest.
"We are not acquainted," he replied truthfully, as the one-sided, involuntary encounter hardly qualified as making someone's acquaintance. "But I will keep an eye out for him."
He definitely would.
~ TBC ~
Chapter 23
A/N: First of apologies for the HUGE delay in posting. We've had some problems with finding the last bit of this scene as stupid me has saved the wrong document. And then there were other things on my mind and so on. But from now on no more delays for the last few chapters.
Second, thank you all for reading and reviewing.
Then a note on the content... As mentioned in a previous chapter we didn’t know whether Orions have last names, so we made one up. However, since she's only known to everybody as 'Gaila', we also made Spock think of her as 'Gaila' and not as 'cadet Sar'. Maybe Orions rarely use their last names and are addressed with their first names similar as Vulcans.
And last but not least the Enterprise. Since it says maiden voyage in the movie we now decided that they have been using a previous model and that the ship we later saw in the movie is simply a new one, but still an Enterprise. The same thing happened in several of the ST movies too, so we thought that made sense.
