The Vulcan Changeling Project

Chapter 5

Talerth savored the feel of the Captain’s chair for the first time and it felt as if she always had been destined for this moment. She leaned forward in her chair and gave orders, “Sub-Commander Lath take us out.”  Talerth’s heart pounded in her chest as the ship rose from the docking platform and into the velvety blackness of space. Her heart filled with joy, for  and  all that mattered was her ship and her crew.

Muriah swore for a third time as Spock glanced over at Muriah’s futile attempt to write code for a task on the computer. Spock raised an eyebrow as another explicative burst from her lips. “Muriah, swearing at the computer will only enhance your anxiety and inhibit…”

“Spock,” Muriah growled, “I don’t want to hear another one of your lectures and these lessons are intolerable, for no matter what you and Doctor McCoy think, I am only human, I don’t have your massive intellect and another thing I need some rest.” Muriah’s eyes widened, “Spock, I apologize for my conduct, it’s just that I would like some free time if that is alright, for these keyboard things are so antiquated.”

Spock clasped his hands behind his back as he paced back and forth, “Computer keyboards are efficient teaching devices. I myself…”

“Yes, Master, I mean Mister Spock, now may I leave please?”

“You may call me Spock and yes you may go. Perhaps, rest will assist in raising your concentration to an acceptable level.” Spock said with a trace of annoyance in his voice.

Muriah flashed a charming half smile at Spock and said,” Thank you, …umm..Mas…Spock, for I told Uhura that I would meet her at the swimming pool at 1300.” Muriah glanced sideways at Spock’s raised eyebrow. “I mean I said I’d meet her if I could get away.”

Spock sighed, it was an almost undiscernible sound, but Muriah still heard it, as Spock said,” I will escort you there myself.”

Muriah shook her head, “Oh, there’s no need for that I can see myself there.”

Spock clasped his hands behind his back, as he walked over to where Muriah stood, “Per the Captain’s orders, either security escorts you, or I will.”

Uhura smiled as Muriah and Spock walked into the gym for Spock looked as if he wanted to restrain Muriah as she babbled incessantly on. “They were a comical pair,” Uhura thought as she watched Spock and Muriah as they stood looking at the pool. They both seemed to be hypnotized by the water’s clear depths, as Uhura quietly approached them. “Hello, Uhura,” Muriah said without turning around to see who was approaching.

Uhura looked around to see if her reflection was visible from Muriah’s view point, and as she scanned the perimeter of the room, she could see  no angle that would have alerted Muriah to her approach. “How did she know I was coming?” Uhura thought for as far as she knew Vulcan’s were the only race that could hear a pin drop across a crowded room. “How did you know it was me?” Uhura asked.

Muriah laughed at Uhura’s puzzlement, “Spock and I could hear your footsteps as you entered the room. Oh course, Spock heard you approach first, apparently he knows the soundyou’re your footsteps quite well,” Muriah teased, for she hadn’t failed to notice how Spock looked at Uhura when he thought no one was watching.

Uhura sensed something between them, but didn’t comment, “Well, let’s quit talking and go for a swim. Do you know how to swim, Muriah?”

Muriah turned her glance sideways to look at Spock,” Yes, I know how to swim and I don’t want any more lessons today.”

Uhura again sensed something pass between Spock and Uhura and after a few moments Uhura shrugged and then pointed to the women’s locker room. “You can get a swimsuit like the one I have in there.”

Muriah nodded and hurried off. Uhura waited until Muriah was out of earshot and then she turned to Spock,” Mister Spock, have you told Muriah why we are headed for Vulcan?”

Spock scanned the clumps of happy crew members, as they dived and splashed in the pool. He sighed and then turned to face Uhura,”No, I have not,” he said quickly, as he turned away from her liquid brown eyes, for he could feel his face starting to flush.

Uhura wasn’t going to let him off that easy, as she walked around to face Spock again. “Someone’s got to tell her, Spock, or she will lose trust in you, us, Starfleet.”

Spock ignored her as he closed his eyes in meditation. “He uses that Vulcan mo jo to get out of a lot of awkward conversations,”Uhura thought as she turned around to watch the swimmers. She was so engrossed in their motions that she jumped when she saw Muriah standing beside her. “You’re too quiet,” Uhura laughed.

Muriah smiled for she had never had a friend before and so she was anxious to please, “Would it help if I made more noise?”

Uhura laughed again, “You sounded just like Mister Spock when you said that.”

Muriah had always had the gift of mimicry and in a tone identical to Spock’s she said,” Would you like to join us for a swim, Mister Spock?”

Uhura thought Spock’s normally pace, flushed slightly green as he hastily answered,”No.”

Muriah watched Uhura as she made her way over to the diving board and climbed up the rungs of the high dive ladder. Once at the top Uhura waved down at Muriah and Spock and then she took a running jump and dived into the crystal, cool, water.

Muriah shifted uneasily, but then squared her shoulders and made her way to the high dive. Slowly, she climbed the same path that Uhura had climbed a moment before, until she was on the diving board, looking at the swimmers below. “They all looked so small,” Muriah thought as she watched them, she then turned to where Spock and Uhura, waved and then like Uhura she ran and jumped off the diving board; however instead of plunging into water Muriah felt burning sand underneath her feet, as she watched a small child run barefoot in the burning sand before her. The child’s breath came out in ragged gasps, for she was terrified and knew that something evil stalked her. It was then that she saw the ledge, however it was too late to stop her fall and she screamed, as her body fell and fell and fell.

Spock watched Muriah as she dove into the water; however unlike Uhura’s graceful dive, Muriah landed on her stomach and several swimmers winced for they knew that she would have a red welt on her stomach from where she had clumsily hit the top of the water. Then without warning Spock felt what Muriah felt as water filled her lungs and without hesitation, Spock ran and dived into the pool. Once beneath the water, Spock repressed the Vulcan aversion to water and pushed himself deeper where he saw Muriah’s body bobbing along the bottom of the pool. He grabbed a hold of Muriah and then fought his way to the surface where several strong hands helped him and Muriah out of the pool. Spock lay on his stomach coughing up water, as a crewmember administrated CPR on Muriah. Spock then got up and made his way over to where Uhura stood shivering, he took off the towel someone had given him and he wrapped it around Uhura’s shoulders. “It’s all my fault, Spock, I really thought she could swim,” Uhura cried as she leaned onto Spock’s shoulder and to his surprise, Spock didn’t pull away. “Uhura, I must go and assist Muriah, please sit down and I will join you shortly.”

Spock walked over and kneeled beside Muriah, brushed the First Aid crewmember to the side and took Muriah’s face in his hands, “Do not be afraid,” Spock whispered in her mind. “I am here. Your thoughts are my thoughts. Your pain is my pain. We are one.”

McCoy pushed his way through the crowd just in time to see Muriah sit up and open her eyes, as she looked up at Spock.

McCoy folded his arms across his chest as he stood bedside Spock, “Well, Mister Spock I don’t know why I was called, for you seem to have the situation under control. What else can you do, walk on water?” McCoy was about to tease Spock further, but stopped when he saw Spock’s pale, face. “Spock, are you alright?”

Spock blinked as if McCoy had asked him the time of day. “Yes, Doctor I am quite well, thank you.”

McCoy grimaced, as he folded his arms across his chest again, ”The hell you are.”