kalokagathia - a Star Trek Story [on hiatus]

Chapter 10 : It Was an Attempt to Avoid Favouritism

Cass stood, her back rigid, waiting for her assignment. To see which ship of the fleet she would get put on. Who she'd have to work with.

"Ryann, USS Enterprise. Uhura, USS Farogot." Cass's eyes widened slightly. Uhura wanted to be on the Enterprise almost as much as Cass did, and she deserved to be there. She was one of the top students in communications the academy has ever had. Ever.

"Go to your ships. Good luck." Gaila turned around from in front of them, her ginger hair loosely pulled back and a grin on her face that Cass returned sarcastically. Uhura was fuming.

"That pointy-eared bastard," she hissed. Cass grinned.

"Has anyone ever told you you're starting to sound like Jim Kirk?" Uhura glared at her. "Sorry," Cass said, still smiling. Cass's mind flickered back to her friends, to Jim and Bones. She was sure Bones would've been posted to the Enterprise, but how would Jim feel? He would've been grounded because of his cheating, which he would know if he ever bothered to read anything about the academy. Such as rules, for example. Just a thought, for next time.

"Come on," Uhura said, grabbing her arm and dragging after someone. Cass's head spun around, trying to work out where they were going. Then she noticed the grey uniform, the sharp black hair, and the pointy ears.

"Nyota, stop," she said sternly. Could she control her feelings? The burning anger that was bubbling inside her at just the sight of him? She gritted her teeth as Uhura continued to drag her, ignoring her protest.

"Uhura," Cass said, yanking her arm back. Uhura turned to her surprised.

"What?" she said, genuinely confused. Cass shuffled, her blue eyes flitting around nervously.

"Nothing," she said, pulling a false smile onto her face. It doesn't matter who it was, after you'd been friends with someone for years, you can tell when they're upset. And Uhura had been Cass's friend for five years. Since they had both started the academy. Since day one.

"Cass, you're amazing, but I need to get this assignment," she dragged Cass after her again, pushing through the crowd.

"Commander, a word" Uhura said brusquely, following Spock as he continued to walk.

"Yes lieutenant?" he replied, just as coolly.

"Am I not one of your best students?" Uhura's voice was icy.

"Indeed,"

"And have I not on countless occasions demonstrated extreme oral sensitivity, and I quote, an unparalleled ability to detect sonic anomalies in subspace transmissions tests?"

"Certainly,"

"Then why," Uhura grabbed his arm, making him face them. Spock cast a curious look at Cass, and she glared in reply, "when I have expressed my unqualified desire to serve on the USS Enterprise, I get assigned to the Farogot?" Uhura was livid, although Cass couldn't see what Spock would do about it.

"It was an attempt," said Spock in a low voice, casting his eyes around nervously, "to avoid the appearance of favouritism-"

"No, I'm assigned to the Enterprise," said Uhura, her voice angry, but this time cold, demanding. And it was a voice that, if you had any sense, you'd obey. Spock regarded her again, his expression blank, but Cass could see him whizzing the options around in his annoyingly logical mind. He tapped the datapad in front of him before looking back up at the two girls, the two who appearance-wise were completely opposite. Cassidy with her curly blonde hair, piercing blue eyes and pale skin, and Nyota, her chocolate skin and dead straight, shiny black hair, her glassy dark eyes. There backgrounds were completely different, but somehow their personalities were the same; they had that same fire in them, you could see it, just behind their eyes that burnt so bright. It was a fire like that you want on your side, not against you.

"Yes, I believe you are," Spock said after a moment.

"Thank you," Uhura said happily before turning away, her hair flying around her head. Cass glanced disdainfully at Spock before moving to follow her. She didn't get very far.

"Miss Ryann," Spock called to her. She stopped, turning slowly on her heel.

"Yes commander?" she replied in a very forced polite tone, gritting her teeth.

"I understand that what I said to James Kirk has affected you." He began, although he seemed uncertain, "your parents were on that ship, and died. If you were offended with the appeared flippancy of my comment I apologise to you."

Cass was taken aback. Spock never apologised. Ever. But that didn't make what he said was right.

"Well, I just hope next time you use someone else's family against them, you'll remember how people used yours against you," she said slowly, dangerously. "Commander."

She turned and left him stood there, his eyebrow raised in his typical quizzical style, the one that always made Cass shake her head. She knew her words had struck a chord with the half-Vulcan-half-human, made him think. They were supposed to.

"What was that about?" Uhura asked when Cass joined her again, noticing the clear smirk on the blonde's face.

"I'll tell you when you tell me what's going on between you and Spock," she replied, eyeing her friend suspiciously. Uhura rolled her eyes, unimpressed.

"You really think now's the time to discuss that?" she said, a small smile on her face, "we're jetting off to try to avoid a Vulcan crisis, and you bring up my relationship status?" Uhura said it so dramatically, it made Cass laugh, grabbing the girl's arm.

"And you wouldn't do the same?" she queried. Uhura frowned at her before breaking into a grin.

"No, I wouldn't, because there's this thing known as professionalism . . ." the two laughed again, picking up their uniforms and boarding the shuttle.

"Oh, really? And how's that working out for you?"

"Not that well."