Daughter of the Stars

"Jim. Jim Kirk."

Stardate 2255. 255

Sala had just completed a lecture for one of her Cultural Assessment classes. This class was aimed for those who were intending to be in positions where they would be interacting with Starfleet members of other races, such as medical or command.

As Sala was gathering her things to leave the lecture hall, she sensed the presence of a Cadet at the other side of the table she was standing at.

"Excuse me, Ms.," The Cadet, a male, trailed off.

"You should address me as 'Lieutenant,' but it is Sala," Sala said, looking up to meet a pair of vibrant blue eyes, while tucking some of her loose blonde hair behind her ear, "How may I help you, Cadet?"

"Well, it's a question about your lecture today."

"I assumed as much, Cadet. What is the question that you have?"

"Well, you see, it's not quiet a specific question. It's more a question about what you know. You've spoken about several situations already this semester as though you have experienced them."

"And in a manner of speaking, I have, Cadet. My father is an Ambassador, so much of my life has dealt with cultural assessment."

"An Ambassador?" The Cadet asked, sounding impressed, "An Ambassador for where, if I may ask?"

"My father is an Ambassador of Vulcan," Sala said, wondering how that would not be clear from her appearance.

"Is that why you joined Starfleet? I mean, it's not every day you see a Vulcan in Starfleet."

"Cadet, I fail to see how questions pertaining to my personal history and choices relate to today's lecture," Sala said, starting to get the slightest bit irritated.

"Then perhaps we can just forget about the lecture and discuss your personal history and choices elsewhere," The Cadet said in a mildly flirtatious manner.

"Cadet, I-."

"Jim. Jim Kirk. No need to be so formal when it's just us."

"Cadet Kirk, you behavior at this moment is highly inappropriate," Sala said, her irritation growing but not showing.

"And yet, you're not doing anything to stop me," Cadet Kirk said with a confident smile.

Sala, after having known the Cadet's name for a few moments, remembered a few things that she had heard around the campus that dealt with that name.

Sala let out a sigh, "You have only been on this campus for a month and have managed to bring your womanizing reputation with you, Cadet. However I must inform you that you will not be 'having your way' with me. Now, if you will excuse me, Cadet."

Sala had only just shouldered her bag when one of the lower level doors of the hall opened, revealing a dark-haired, male Cadet.

"Jim! There you are! What the hell are you-?" The Cadet started before seeing Sala. The Cadet paused before letting out a sigh, "Did I 'interrupt' something, Jim?"

"No, Cadet. The conversation was finished. You have not interrupted anything," Sala said before walking towards the door to leave, "I would, however, suggest keeping a tight lead on your friend."

With that, Sala left the lecture hall, hearing "Damn it, Bones!" come from the room behind her. Sala may be half-Human, but she was not going to fall for such simple ploys.

Later in the day, as Sala was leaving the science facilities of the Academy, she was approached by a Cadet. The same Cadet that had come into the lecture hall as she was departing from her conversation with Cadet Kirk.

"Lieutenant! Lieutenant!" The Cadet called as he approached her.

"Yes, Cadet, what can I do for you?" Sala asked, arresting her stride.

"I wanted to apologize for Jim's behavior earlier today," The Cadet said as he stopped in front of Sala.

"It would be more appreciated coming from him, Cadet," Sala trailed, not knowing this name of the Cadet who was associating himself with James T. Kirk.

"McCoy," The Cadet answered, "And I can understand such. Thing is, I told him to give you your space for the time being. But he did tell me that part of why he approached you was genuine curiosity about you. That's why he started to ask those questions. See, to him, it's not every day you meet a Vulcan on Earth, let alone a female Vulcan, and a blonde one at that."

"Well, Cadet McCoy, you can tell Cadet Kirk that I am indeed of Vulcan lineage and then inform him that I am on Earth for professional matters; not to fraternize with my students. And if that is all that you needed of me, I must be on my way," Sala said before walking in the direction of her apartment.

"Alright, Lieutenant," Cadet McCoy said in a slightly dejected tone as Sala left.

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Stardate 2255.257

Another lecture completed and Sala was once again gathering her teaching materials. Just as Sala's shoulder bag was closed, she sensed a presence on the other side of the table.

Looking up, Sala saw the familiar pair of bright blue eyes.

"Yes, Cadet Kirk?" Sala asked in a monotonous voice.

"I, uh, I wanted to apologize for how I acted the other day," Cadet Kirk said with a small sigh, "I suppose I don't have a right to expect you to, but I hope you could forgive me."

"I will say that you are quiet intriguing, Cadet. To my knowledge it is not like a womanizer to apologize for his behavior towards the women he's interacted with," Sala noted.

"Then I guess we're both puzzles," Jim said with a brief laugh

"Pardon, Cadet?"

"Well, I don't know if Bones, Cadet McCoy, told you or not but, you're a bit of a mystery to me. And you've just stated the similar idea that I am a mystery to you."

"As I told you before, Cadet Kirk, I do not intend to allow you to 'have your way' with me," Sala said, her irritation resurfacing the slightest bit.

"And I'm not asking you to!" Cadet Kirk said quickly in his defense, "What I was going to suggest was simply that we allowed ourselves to be better acquainted to be able to learn about each other more and work on solving the puzzle that is the other."

"Are you proposing a friendship, Cadet?" Sala asked.

"In the simplest of terms I guess I am," Jim said, bringing his hands together in front of him.

"It is against Academy regulations that a teacher fraternize with their student, Cadet," Sala reminded the Cadet.

"I see," Cadet Kirk said, looking downwards towards the desk.

"However, if you are serious about your proposal, return after you have completed my course and are no longer a student of mine," Sala said simply while shouldering her bag.

Cadet Kirk's eyes light up just a touch at Sala's comment.

"Will do, Lieutenant," Cadet Kirk said with a mock salute before leaving the lecture hall with a spring in his step.

"Quite intriguing in deed," Sala said before leaving the lecture hall herself.