Chapter Text
Tyra lets out a small sigh, inspecting her cadet uniform in the mirror to ensure there were no imperfections. She did not often care about her appearance besides making an effort to look professional.
Her long white hair is twisted back into a tight braid, keeping it out of her face while she was working. It showed her pointed ears fully, leaving no doubts about her Vulcan blood. She reflects on her features for a moment, lingering on how different she looked from the other Vulcans who attended the Academy. Aside from her white hair, her piercing green eyes also set her apart too. Her parents believed it was an old recessive gene, somehow pushing its way into her genetics against all odds. Completely illogical.
She shakes her head, ridding herself of those unnecessary thoughts. Appearance did not matter in her field. Finally satisfied with her inspection, she picks up her bag for the day and leaves her dorm.
The campus of Starfleet Academy was huge, it had taken her longer than she cared to admit to learn all of the various pathways across it. Today was brisk, a slight chill in the air as Earth’s winter was approaching.
She makes her way across the grounds to the large lecture hall. Today marked the beginning of her new course; a training to get her better accustomed to working with a variety of cultures. It was not required of her as part of her security track, but she believed it was only logical that she learned about all possible encounters. After all, what appears to be aggressive to her may simply be polite for another’s culture.
Tyra increases her pace, wanting to be appropriately early as to show the professor she respected their time. She glances at her side for a moment to check her bag, taking her focus off of the path ahead.
This proved to be an unwise decision.
A figure who was running the opposite direction slams into her, knocking her to the ground and causing her bag to slip off her shoulder and land a few feet away.
The figure lets out a string of curses, her voice apologetic. She mumbled something about forgetting something in her dorm, but Tyra was too focused on studying her.
Her skin was dark, her face dotted with a few freckles. Her ears were round, confirming that she was human. Her features all aligned perfectly, but two struck Tyra most. Her hair, a mess of golden curls that looked as if they were spun out of sunlight. And her eyes that were two golden suns of their own, gazing down at Tyra for a moment before widening.
“I am so SO sorry!!” The human repeats again, picking up the bag as Tyra stands up and brushes herself off.
Their fingertips brush as the human hands the bag back to her. The brief connection sends sparks up Tyra’s arm, mingling into her chest with a tight pull.
Even as this human steps back, placing a foot or two of distance between them, Tyra feels the sensation linger. It was warm in a way she had never experienced, yet had an odd sense of familiarity to it.
No. This should not be happening. It makes no logical sense. Tyra had accidentally brushed hands with humans before, it was a common mistake in the Academy. She had made accidental connections that had been much more invasive and long lasting than this.
Yet, none had ever agitated her so much. This shiver of sparks was entirely unique, and it was startling how easy this human slipped by her barriers. She had immediately felt the worry and slight panic within the woman.
Tyra blinks, straightening herself and clearing her throat as she wipes the thoughts from her mind, “It was accidental, your apology is accepted.” She says, slinging the bag back over her shoulder.
“Are you sure you’re ok?” The human asks, looking like she wants to reach out to brush Tyra off but decides against it.
“I am perfectly fine, I was just startled. However I recommend you do not run, the campus is very crowded.”
“I know, I’m just in a rush. Woke up late and forgot my shi- stuff at the dorm. You know how it is.”
“I in fact do not ‘know how it is.’” She says, her tone still neutral. She wants to get moving again, her schedule would be thrown off entirely if she did not get to her class soon, “I am always on time.”
The human chuckles a bit, a curious behavior in Tyra’s opinion, “One of us has to be.” She says with a quick wink.
How odd.
Tyra would never understand human behavior, since quickly after the woman turns a deep shade of red and runs off, saying something about whatever she left in her dorm.
Tyra sighs, continuing her walk, now with more on her mind. She reflects on the feeling she experienced, and the sensation that still buzzed under her skin. Perhaps it had just been the timing, her attention had been thrown off so her mind was not properly fortified.
That thought gnaws at her, reminding her that this was just another reflection of her weaknesses as a Vulcan. Throughout all of her telepathic training on Vulcan, she proved to have very strong abilities with little control. She was frowned upon by those around her, who believed it was a reflection of her lack of self discipline. But no matter the hours she devoted to training, her mind was still never fully under control. Her presence bothered other Vulcans, who could hear the buzzing nature of her mind within their own.
It was most of the reason she enrolled in Starfleet. Perhaps here, her overactive mind would be useful and she could prove to her kind that she was not a defect. Her combat abilities were astounding, no doubt a result of her mind allowing her to think quicker than her opponent.
She muses on all of this as she enters the lecture hall, and picks a seat near the middle. There are a few students there already, chatting among themselves. They all bore the white command strip across the sleeve of their red uniforms. As more students file in, she notices that all of them were wearing that strip.
It makes sense, considering this course was only for students who wish to enter the command field, but logically everyone should be educated on how to work with other species.
The hall was nearly full, only one open seat remained open next to Tyra. As the professor was set to begin her lesson, the door opens and eyes fall on the last late student.
She has golden curls, and is breathing heavily from running across the campus. The professor gives her a stern look and points up to the open seat next to Tyra, instructing her not to be late again.
Tyra sees her face light up a bit upon seeing who she would be next to. The human sets her stuff down next to her, turning to whisper at Tyra as the professor started her lesson.
“Fancy meeting you again.”
“We attend the same school, it is logical we would see each other.”
The human goes quiet, instead focusing on the lesson. Tyra was grateful, she did not need a human to ruin her own reputation.
The professor had them introduce themselves to each other. The human said her name was Anya, and she was raised on a planet a few light years away but joined Starfleet in hopes of seeing more of the universe. Her eyes shone with excitement as she spoke, and Tyra could not stop herself from watching them.
When it was Tyra’s turn, she explained little more than her name and how she had been born on Vulcan. She provided no reason for joining Starfleet, that was not the business of a stranger.
As they speak, Anya’s hand brushes Tyra’s arm. That same spark rushes through her, and Tyra recoils at it this time out of surprise.
Anya’s eyes became wide, “Ohmygod I’m so sorry- I know Vulcans don’t like to be touched I’m really sorry- I speak with my hands a lot.” She explains quickly, deciding on folding her hands on the table instead.
Tyra is left reeling, unsure of how to process what had just happened. She could now not play it off as a one time incident. It was something to do with this human. She would have to keep her distance from her, this new experience was not needed now and she could not afford any distractions. Yes, that would be her solution, stay as far away as possible.
The professor clears her throat, snapping Tyra out of her thoughts.
“Now that you have gotten to know each other, the person you have sat next to will be your partner for the first semester.” She says, earning mixed reactions from the students.
Tyra’s heart drops. Her plan had immediately been thwarted. Why, out of everyone here, did it have to be her who she sat next to?
She would speak to the professor in private. Get her seat moved and her partner changed, no questions asked. She needed to get as far away from Anya as possible. No more electric touches or rushes of human emotion.
The class dragged on, but Tyra was not fully there anymore. The professor explained the overview of the course, and the required outside of class activities they had to attend. It was standard, and now as a second year cadet, Tyra was used to it.
At the end, Anya says goodbye to Tyra before heading out to join up with one of her friends who had been sitting in the back. Tyra heads to the front of the class to speak with the professor.
“Ma’am, I have a request.”
“Oh, Miss Tyra! I would like to say, I am very glad you decided to enroll in my course. You are my only trainee who is studying a track outside of command.”
“Thank you.” She says, thinking for a moment before continuing, “I would like to request to have my partner changed.”
“Why?”
“It is a… personal reason.” Tyra says, not wanting to explain the full extent of the situation, “I do not believe her and I will be compatible.”
“I apologize Tyra, but as this is a training on how to work with all people, remember? I will not be changing your partner assignment. You must learn to work with her.”
“Professor, it’s-“ Tyra is cut off by a stern look from the woman. She straightens up, pressing her lips together into a thin line, “I respect your decision. Thank you for your time.”
“You’re welcome, Miss Tyra.”
Tyra huffs as soon as she leaves the building, heading back to her dorm with hopes to meditate for a bit to reflect on how she felt.
Felt.
She was not supposed to feel anything, especially not because of a simple accidental touch with a human.
When Tyra finally returns to the familiarity of her dorm, she tosses her bag on her bed and sits on the floor for a few minutes before slipping into her meditative state.