literature

48. Cold

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48. Cold

Spock heard the whispers long before any of the ensigns finally addressed him. The woman was tiny, with large nervous eyes and messy hair; her overall appearance showed long nights of hard, endless work and stress. Stammering, she handed over a data pad.

"S-sir, this is the completed data for trials A through D b-but... E and F need to be redone. There was some contamination with the samples..."

Spock's eyes narrowed. "I expressly said that the samples would need special care. This will set back our research by three-point-seventeen days time..." The Vulcan was already calculating the extra work that would need to be done to get the project back on track.

"We're so sorry." The ensign whimpered. "I know that you told us to use the containers at all times but-"

"It would have been the correct procedure as I stated at the beginning of the experimentation process. In the future, please, endever to follow my instructions."

As he walked off he could hear the young woman's friends trying to console her and felt the glares of other crew members directed his way. Spock was not certain why his response was considered inappropriate when it was only logical.

#####

"You freak! Inhuman monster! You computer!"

Captain Christopher Pike ran into the transporter room in time to see one of his lieutenants deck his Science Officer across the jaw. The man intervened, grabbing at the enraged lieutenant while his First Officer helped the Vulcan to his feet. Spock's eyes were neutral as always as the woman looked him over.

"Mr. Spock, are you alright?"

"Quite fine, Commander." The Vulcan nodded to Chris and straightened, hands behind his back. The Captain turned to the lieutenant.

"I suggest you explain why you would strike a fellow officer. Because I can't think of a damn reason for you to."

"He left Torres behind!" The man's flushed face into an ugly snarl. "He ordered a retreat and left Torres bleeding behind enemy lines!"

"The probability of recovering Lieutenant Torres was nearly nonexistent and the orders we received were to bring the remaining scouting party to safety." Spock's voice was calm and flat as he explained himself. "It would have made no logical sense to attempt something so futile and risk the lives of all other officers."

The lieutenant sank to the ground, sobbing into an ensign's shoulder as Chris pulled Spock from the room. The Vulcan was frowning. "Lieutenant Torres' death is regrettable but I only did what was logical and I was ordered to do."

"I know Spock, but Torres and MacAvoy were close friends. He won't see this the way you do. I suggest you avoid him and the others for a while."

Spock nodded stiffly and made his way to his rooms. As he passed a group loitering in the hall, he could hear the lowered whispers.

"Without so much as a second thought. He's like stone; I dunno if he even cares..."

#####

"I'm sorry kid..." Doctor Piper watched the young man slouched on the medbay table in front of him. "I know it was... I really am sorry."

Spock watched Captain James T Kirk as the young man shivered slightly; the cool air hitting his bare chest as Piper cleaned his wounds. The Vulcan cocked his head to the side. "The Captain acted within regulation."

"I know Spock, but what he did was hard."

"It was logical."

"Logical?" Kirk's head snapped up and locked eyes with the Science Officer for the first time since he'd begun his captaincy. Spock was startled by the intensity of the hazel eyes that bored into him, the stark emotions. "Lieutenant-Commander Spock, logical as it may be, I killed a young man who was little more than a boy over a petty feud."

"It was either him or your crew." Piper cautioned.

"Yes, and therefore logical." Jim threw a challenging look at Spock who had the good sense to remain silent. The young captain stood, somewhat unsteadily. "But I took a life I shouldn't have had to. I lost three men. Are you really so cold, Mr. Spock, that you would say that this is something I should write off as just another mission?"

Spock was silent as he contemplated his new superior. "Dwelling on this will not change what happened. It is illogical to-"

"Yes, well, we humans are illogical creatures." Kirk pulled on his shirt, glaring at the Vulcan as the door swooshed open and Commander Mitchel slipped in. "And we tend to feel and get upset and show some emotion and compassion from time to time instead of putting up a cold shoulder."

Spock was about to respond when something shifted in the younger man's gaze. It was as if a light-bulb was going off behind those intelligent eyes. Kirk 's shoulders slumped slightly and he turned away. "I apologize Lieutenant-Commander, I was out of line. Thank you for accompanying me to Medbay."

"It's regulation for injured to be ac-"

"I know. Thank you anyway."

Spock turned to Piper with a raised eyebrow as the doctor smiled.

#####

"Damn robot..."

Spock did not respond to the muttered comment; he was used to such comment and it would be illogical t-

"Lieutenant."

Spock looked up at the frosty tone in his Captain's voice. The man was glaring at the man who'd spoken. "I do not want to ever hear you make such a comment about a superior officer again."

"Captain..." Spock turned fully toward Kirk. "I do not feel and therefore-"

"As a Lieutenant-Commander you deserve respect and we need to maintain the chain of command." Kirk shot him the smile that never ceased to puzzle the Vulcan. "That's logical is it not?"

"...Indeed."

The young captain walked past him on the way to the door, pausing to murmur. "Besides, he's wrong isn't he? You're not as cold as you pretend to be."

Kir-Jim winked at him and walked off, leaving the Vulcan frowning slightly. This human promised to be...different.
Sunshockk's prompt: everydayartist.deviantart.com/…

100 prompts, 100 days, 100 stories

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I think Spock is too cute for someone who's supposed to be emotionless. I just...his 'this does not compute' look...
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EpiphanyBlue's avatar
What exactly is the incident Jim is referring to in part 3?