Cantrell: The Early Years, Part Four

Parted From Me and Never Parted, a Cantrell: The Early Years, Part Four Update

Spock’s entire face brightened when the turbo-lift doors parted onto C-Deck, at the end of his duty-shift, zero-nineteen-hundred hours, wholly gratified to find the lieutenant there. She was in the midst of a game, which suddenly ended in a fit of temper. He watched for a bit. When she turned, he flagged her over, flicking the first two fingers of his right hand.

With Kirk’s early morning announcement that the rendezvous with the T’Mir was on schedule for tomorrow, the Vulcan Contingency aboard, he felt a pang of regret. He almost broke their appointment right before he left the bridge, although he had been unable to reach her in time to cancel. She had already left her quarters, if indeed she had even checked in there, and he wasn’t inclined to call all over the ship in search of her.  Watch your step.

So very attracted to Lieutenant Cantrell, if she wasn’t his intended, as he feared, then pursuing her like this could only serve to hurt them both. His forced absence had already hurt the Candidate. I am most certainly a one Vulcan wreaking crew. He was also aware of what he told Jim most recently, when he said. “I just can’t get over how they are forcing you to wed a complete stranger,” Shaking his head at him, Spock said, “Due to the nature of our relationship, I assure you, we would not be strangers, Captain.” So, why am I arguing with myself over this? Most illogical.

Watching as the lieutenant approached,  T’Pau’s admonition danced across his thoughts, ’Thee art to take this time to get to know her, to quell your reticence. Restoring the honor you stole from the House of Talek Sen Dene, by your undisciplined actions, is tantamount. By crossing into her thoughts as you did, thee art unofficially betrothed. Thee shalt make good on thy promise.’

Spock’s face twisted itself into an unaccustomed smile upon seeing her, as she came forward to meet him. “You’re here,” he said, with a nod.
“You seemed surprised, sir. Almost as if you didn’t expect me to honor the appointment. A change of heart, perhaps?”
“Not now. I am delighted.”

Brianna smiled brightly, “I, too, am gratified to be in your presence, sir.” He noted, too, how carefully she avoided emotion in her speech. And her slight accent amused him, too. You were raised in the Province.

The two casually strolled across the vast and rather bustling recreation deck; Music, 3-D holographic gaming, the deck was fully equipped and filled to capacity with a crew that needed to unwind.  Noisy.  In a corner somewhere, were the strains of a lively debate.  He also heard the crack of pins as they were smacked by a bowling ball.

“Have you taken any real time to relax. You seemed inordinately nervous upon your arrival this morning.”
“I don’t like being late. It has a most unpleasant effect of rattling my nerves. I did attempt to play a game, while I awaited you, but it also upended on me. As you no doubt heard.”

“Affirmative, but I must advise you, it was only a game, madam,” Spock said, as they walked along together toward the snack vendors and, if they were lucky, a quiet corner where they could talk.  The sheer number of people created quite a din of conversations, a constant roar, mixing none too harmoniously with the various forms of music pounding forth from several pockets around the vast room, assaulting Spock’s ears as they passed through the length of the deck.  Uncomfortably, he felt the need to shout.  “Are you always testing yourself?  You are no longer in training, per se,” he said, as they made it over to the snack corner.

Ordering up a cup of hot tea, he added just a pinch of sugar and another pinch of Terran ginger in an effort to simulate the spicy flavor of a particular blend of Vulcan tea, she doing likewise at the vendor adjacent to his, smiling up at him with the coincidence.  “And while it is commendable and necessary to keep one’s edge,” he went on.  “You should know I am not constantly evaluating you along those lines.  You have already made more than a favorable impression on me.”

“I am honored, sir,” Brianna said.  She felt a rush of butterflies flitting around in her stomach suddenly, glad to know she still held his interest.  They hadn’t danced in each others’ dreams in over four years until very recently. She inclined her head slightly, following him, in the Vulcan fashion — as if she were his woman, wending their way to the only vacant table.  Off in a corner, on the fringe of the snack area closest to the vending machines, it seemed quieter and less crowded in this spot, to their joint satisfaction.  Spock slid into the seat opposite her.

He had decided that while he gave her a thorough tour of the ship, he would have a chat with her. Get to know her, as instructed. He had been concerned his phantom wouldn’t accept him — and by his actions had nearly made it a self-fulfilling prophecy.  He obeyed the mandate given him by the High Councilor.  By orders, he regretfully retreated from her. By his own assessment, he had a great deal of damage to control, if he were to make amends. All the while praying it wasn’t too late to fix this.  Else, come tomorrow, she would likely either refuse to serve him tea, or call for a Challenge. 

He wanted to love the woman who by arrangement was set to become his life-partner.  As a child growing up, he sensed a certain degree of affection between his parents. Their display was seldom overt, but in watching their expressions, particularly his mother’s their devotion was evident. Spock was acutely aware of just how deeply rooted his feelings for Cantrell were already, as it turned out, hoping that he hadn’t driven a fatal stake into their hitherto battered and bruised relationship.

“You would do well to allow yourself a relaxing moment or two,” he said, reaching across the table to cup her chin in his large hand.  “You appear to have a quick temper, madam.  I had the impression you were about to deck Crewman Rhoades.”

“Well, you heard him, sir.  He attacked my integrity.  And you’re correct.  It was only a game, but for him to suggest I, in anyway, cheated — I never use my gifts that way, that’s just so wrong, sir, on so many levels — Ooh, sometimes, the man simply gets on my nerves,” she defended. “I won’t be blamed for another’s inadequacies.  I’ve got enough of my own —” Spock released her chin to touch her lips with his fingertip, hoping to curtail her sudden rant.

Brianna drew in a breath, trying to keep from visibly reacting to Spock’s touch, let alone his words.  She felt so out of practice … his hand was hot by human standards, his touch ever so gentle.  She reveled in the contact, for the way it obliterated her sorrow, and that persistent cavernous, painful gulf that separated them whenever together, giving her back a sense of balance, at least, that all was right in her world again, as if her heart was suddenly mended.

“He’s been like a fly,” she said more calmly this time, although a bit muffled until he removed his finger. Then that sense of a deep cavern hit her again. He seemed so very far away. Out-of-touch. She winced involuntarily.  “Actually, he’s like my eldest brother, Aaron, equally annoying.  Never knowing when enough is enough.  Always pushing.”

“Straining your Vulcan reserve to the maximum,” Spock said.  He leaned closer to her, unconsciously trying to rid them both of that persistent distance between them, much like a deep chasm, which was far more prevalent again once he released her chin and pulled his hand away entirely.  It was disconcerting.  She dropped her gaze at once, avoiding him, looking off into the distance — anywhere but at him.  She sighed quietly.  Spock frowned.  Where was she off to, just now?  Don’t shut me out.

More to Come. . . 

Author’s Note: I have reversed my decision. The interplay between Spock and Brianna in this chapter, is just too difficult for me to recreate. Forgive me for using more of my published work.  This is taken from Chapter 19 from Night Whispers: The Deception, which is volume two of my Star Trek fanfiction trilogy. Thank you.