The Sirens of Thayra

Authors Note You might want to read "Two Sides of the Same Coin" before this one, as it precedes this story. OC-Centric.


Chapter One
Tria sat in front of the computer console at Spock's quarters, reading the reports from the Enterprise's encounter with Ardana the previous year. She was interested in the development of the Stratos aristocracy over the Troglyte miners. She found the dynamic interesting and was looking for clues in the data banks to form a more complete history of the planet so that she could write a thorough case study about the planet's cultural development. She wrote down the name of every person who was quoted in the records as possible contacts she could write letters to in hopes of having her more detailed questions answered.

The door slid open and Spock stepped in. She smiled at him, having expected him to return soon, as his shift for the day had ended less than five minutes ago. He raised a curious eyebrow at her as he crossed the room to stand next to the desk. “How is your research on Ardana coming?” his tone was controlled, but a measure of warmth echoed in his voice.

“More and more difficult,” she answered. “I'm glad you're back, actually. I'm hitting a wall from just what's here.” She gestured at the computer. “And, I don't really feel like writing letters today.”

Spock gave her a soft, amused look; his mouth barely curling to hint a smile. Tria knew that saying she didn't feel like doing something that she had to do to further her case study was not logical.

He laid a hand on her shoulder and said, “How did your meditation go after I left his morning?”

Tria frowned. She had scarcely left Spock's quarters to sleep in her own in the two weeks since she had been granted permission to travel with the Enterprise temporarily. Staying with him at night made her happy, but failing to successfully complete his assignments for her during the day was just embarrassing. Spock had been dutifully giving her methods to help hone her Vulcan mental abilities. He had started out slow, having her read The Teachings of Surak and meditating. Reading was easy, meditating was a chore. She usually could sit still for at least fifteen to twenty minutes, contemplating whatever puzzle Spock had suggested for her to focus on. However any longer than that and she always found her mind wandering, unable to stay centered on one topic or idea.

Spock read her answer in her face. He squeezed her shoulder reassuringly and stepped toward the other room. “We will work on it again tonight,” he said, disappearing behind the screen separating the two rooms.

Tria sighed and saved her work. She stacked her handwritten notes neatly on the end of the desk and went into the living area. Spock was already changing into his meditation robes. She watched him carefully fold his uniform tunic, standing shirtless and barefoot next to the closet. Tria approached him with his back still turned, but she did not surprise him when she put her hands on his back, caressing his skin. He slowly turned to face her, eyebrow raised. “After meditation, Tria.” His words were warm but firm, indicating that while he appreciated the intimate gesture, business before pleasure.

She dropped her hands and left him to change. She went to the altar and lit the incense. Opening the drawer under the bed, she drew out a large, flat pillow and sat it on the floor in front of the altar. Spock brought a second pillow, setting it next to hers. Tria kept her face flat, emotionless; even though she idea of trying this again was stressful. She wanted to throw herself onto the bed, stretching out on the sheets, waiting for Spock to join her there. But he had learned soon after he had started this repertoire of mental training with her that if he let her seduce him before she meditated with him, it would not happen. He had quickly gained the discipline required to resist her advances and even though Tria's instincts told her to ignore them and push him harder, she knew he would consider it disrespectful. So she conceded, doing her best to learn discipline in the ways that Spock tried to teach her, regardless of how frustrating it got.

The smoke from the incense was spicy and strong, taking some getting used to. The first time Spock had lit it her eyes burned and she had to ask him to put it out. Now she let the odor fill the room and put it out before it got too strong. Spock sat, calling her to join him. She lowered herself cross-legged on the floor. “Remember to focus on your breathing,” he said.

Saying nothing, she nodded, breathing at a steady pace. Of all the methods Spock had her try, breathing in and out as she counted worked best. She did so slowly, making it almost to one-hundred when her mind started to wander at the numbing sensation in her ankles. Continuing where she left off, she continued to count. Next to her she could sense Spock in complete control, able to focus himself. She tried to draw on that, following his example, but to no avail. Soon she was tapping the ball of her foot anxiously on the floor and when she realized that she had no control, she sighed heavily, flopping back on the ground.

Spock opened his eyes suddenly and turned to her, surprised at the outburst. He rotated on the floor so he was facing her, “You must discipline your body to remain still,” he said softly.

It was not meant to be a lecture, but she threw her hands over her face just the same. “Spock,” she said muffled through her fingers, “I'm not getting any better at this. I don't understand why it is so important. I've been fine for almost thirty years just as I am. What does it matter now?”

He put a hand on her knee, trying to comfort her. “We have discussed this before. You do understand. It is your frustration with your inability to focus that you do not understand.” As usual, he was right. Tria knew that any hope of getting in touch with her Vulcan roots would mean she had to learn to control her emotions. Spock had admitted that it was possible for her to do so without submerging them entirely, but had warned that other Vulcans might not look so kindly on that exception. But maintaining a connection with her emotions was a part of who she was, where she was raised, and she did not want to loose sight of that. “This will never be an easy path,” he continued. “Training is difficult enough for young Vulcans to undergo while growing up, to do so in adulthood is much more trying.”

Moving her hands away from her face, she looked back at him from the floor, forlorn. “We've been at this for 12 days. I've hardly made any progress. Spock, I don't know if I can handle this.”

He held out a hand, indicating she should take it. She did and he pulled her up into a sitting position again. He ran his fingers through her hair, deep brown eyes tempered in affection. “If you change your mind, I will understand. I shall not force you to change.”

Tria's eyes lowered, not looking at him. “I haven't changed my mind,” she said. “You're right though, the frustration is overwhelming me.”

He pursed his lips, thinking. “I believe that I am not a skilled enough teacher for you.” She could tell that it made him sad. Tria suspected that Spock enjoyed working with her. What very little progress she had made showed in the way his eyes lit up when she did not revert back to old habits. “I have been considering other avenues...but I am not sure if they would interest you.”

“I won't know unless you tell me.”

He straightened. “I have been taking into consideration how important it is to you to stay near me, however, I am also concerned about what the future would be like if you did not learn to blend well in Vulcan society.”

Her face twisted, confused. “Why would that matter?”

“Infinite possibilities exist, Tria. Those that are goals and those that are feasible all must be worked toward to be achieved.”

He was being cryptic. Tria sighed at him, rolling her eyes as an indication he was not making much sense to her. She noticed he did this when it came to talking about the future; their future. Spock's mind was always working, calculating. It only stilled on two occasions, when he was meditating, or when he was making love. While Tria admired the calculating Spock, when his mind was still she could see the best in him. She could barely reach it with her untrained mind during meditation, but during intimacy, ah well, she was more than happy to bring about that brief stint of insight.

The bosun's whistle pierced the room. They both glanced to the screen dividing the rooms, where the comm-link was mounted on the wall. “Bridge to Commander Spock,” the voice said. It was Sulu. Spock brushed her face with his hand before standing up and making two quick strides over to the comm.

Clicking the mic on, he said, “Spock here. Go ahead helm.”

“Sensors detecting a M-class planet in the nearby system. The Captain is on his way up for full report. Senior officers are all requested on the bridge.”

“Acknowledged,” he said. “Spock out.” He shut off the comm and turned to Tria. Standing up, she walked over to him. “I will return as soon as possible.”

She gave him an amused half-smile, “I know.” She took his hand. “You have to tell me about your other avenues.”

He raised his chin, standing taller; something he did when she was pressing him for something he considered personal or emotional. “When I return I will explain,” he promised. She brought his hand up to her lips and kissed his fingers softly. As soon as she dropped his hand he crossed to the back room to change back into his uniform. He acted swiftly, not taking his time.

Tria leaned on the divide between the front room and the living area. “Maybe there will be civilization on this planet,” she suggested. The other two the Enterprise had surveyed in the past two weeks had been lifeless. Boring, by her standards.

Tugging his shirt down straight, he made his way out. “If there is,” he said as he passed her, “I will let you know.” He briefly ran two fingers on her jaw and started for the door.

“Spock,” she said, stopping him as the door slid open; “if there is, do you think it will be possible for me to go down with the away team?”

He arched his brow even though he knew this would come up. “I'm sure regulations will have to be reviewed. However, I will inform the Captain of your interest.”

She smiled as he left. She might not be successful at meditation, but a chance to study a new culture definitely raised her mood.

***

“Captain's Log, stardate 6482.9. Sensors indicate a M-class planet in a nearby system. Far-range scans reveal a series of settlements and pre-warp technology. Enterprise moving to enter standard orbit over the planet.” Flicking the recorder off, Kirk stepped up to join his first officer at the science station. “Mr. Spock, anything new to report?”

Spock looked up from his scanner. “I have detected what may be a series of nuclear powered generators in three of the planet's major cities, but cannot judge for sure if the inhabitants have yet achieved space flight. I can say, however, that exposure of our technological advances would be a violation of the prime directive.”

“Keep me updated as we come closer. I'd like to take a look, if possible.”

“Yes Captain,” he said.

Kirk went over to the comm station where Uhura sat. “Lieutenant, have you been able to monitor any kind of communications down there? Radio signals or transmissions?”

Uhura swiveled in the chair, touching the receiver sticking out of her ear. “I'm detecting short range signals, Captain, but most of them are too faint to make out. There appear to be no communications between the cities.”

“Is it possible that they are in the wake of some kind of incident? It doesn't make sense for those communities not to interact with each other.”

“I'm not sure, sir. Most of what I'm getting seem to be work orders within settlements.”

Kirk looked unsatisfied. “Keep it up, Lieutenant.”

“Aye, sir.”

Sensor scans and reports continued for the next half hour, until the ship settled into orbit around the planet. The surface had two large continents very near each other in the great green-blue sea. Kirk ordered the view-screen magnified to get a closer look. Four large cities could be identified as tiny black dots on the surface. The largest was at the end of a large river delta. “Magnify on the largest settlement.” Kirk ordered. The screen pulled in closer, showing the city's layout around the river.

“Fascinating,” remarked Spock. “Captain, the city's structure suggests that this large area used to consist of three smaller settlements, but you can now see where the sub-urban areas have merged connect them.”

“Yes...” Kirk stood from his seat, as if to get a better look. “Have we detected any flight technology at all?”

“Negative,” Spock answered. “However, I am now reading powerful energy signatures at the center of this and two of the other cities. They would appear to be the source of the nuclear power I detected earlier. It is interesting that these cultures have developed nuclear technology without the development of flight.”

Kirk rubbed his jaw pensively. “It would be interesting to find out what made them skip that step.”

“Indeed,” Spock agreed.

Kirk thought for a moment, then moved suddenly to the command chair saying, “Let's get a team down there. Navigation, have some closer shots of that city taken and have the computer replicate some of the local fashion.”

“Yes sir,” said Chekov.

Kirk activated the comm again, ordering Scotty to the bridge. “Mr. Spock, Lieutenant Sulu, I want you both on the team to study their power sources and technological capabilities.”

Chekov turned to face his Captain, “Sir, replication codes are now available for surface disguises.”

“Excellent,” said Kirk. “Let's get this show on the road then.” He took a few steps toward the turbolift.

“Captain,” said Spock in a tone that made Kirk stop.

“What is it Spock?”

“I believe that you granted Tria Meyers permission to stay aboard the ship under the pretense that she would assist in alien studies.”

“Ah.” Kirk smiled. “Thank you for reminding me, Mr. Spock,” Kirk tried to match his first officer's overly formal tone. “Why don't you inform out guest anthropologist that she should meet us in the transporter room in twenty.”

“Yes sir,” the Vulcan said flatly.

“Alright then gentlemen, let's don some of the local affair and see what we've got down there.” Kirk chuckled as he stepped into the lift. Spock simply responded by giving him a mildly amused leer, following behind with Sulu in toe.

***

Spock returned to his quarters to find Tria laying catlike on the bed, stretched out on her side a book open in front of her. As soon as she heard him enter the room she marked her place and closed it, giving him a sultry smile. Although it was still difficult for him to ignore the ways she tried to tempt him, he managed. “I was starting to wonder if you were ever going to come back,” she said.

“The Captain is sending an away team to the planet's surface. He has given you permission to join us.” She sprung from the bed, ecstatic. He held out a staying hand, continuing. “It will be a covert survey. They have not yet achieved warp drive.” Her eyes flickered down to the clothes he had folded over his arm.

“Oh even better,” she said. “Tell me about them.”

Spock started reporting all of their finding as he brought up the data on the civilian clothing Chekov had programed into the ship's computer. He handed her garb similar to his own and they both changed. Spock pulled a tightly woven cap onto his head, concealing his ears. He handed Tria a similar hat, but she didn't take it, waving him off. “Tria, you must not reveal your alien nature to them.”

“I won't.” She stepped over to the mirror and twisted her hair back into a bun so that her ears were hidden under her hair. “You don't think I spent all those years on Earth without learning how to avoid a little confrontation about my heritage.”

Spock allowed himself the faintest of smiles as she brushed a wrinkle in the colorful vest he wore; and followed her out the door as they both headed to the transporter room.