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Una strode through one of the Enterprise's many research labs - her gaze was more downcast than usual and to a trained eye, it was clear that something important was troubling the first officer. Mercifully the crew of the Enterprise were perceptive people, the scientists very much so. This allowed Number One to pass through the lab largely unnoticed - her need for privacy was clearly broadcasting correctly.
The first officer made long strides towards the back archive room, where a certain science officer was cataloguing some rather interesting material from the Illyrian colony. Golden lighting greeted her entrance, Spock didn't even look up from his work.
The young Vulcan was propped up on a research stool, he was bent over the illuminated work surface, rotating a data scroll with one hand and typing data into the main computer with the other. Further tubes were stacked up on his right, and an untouched mug of Vulcan tea sat in the far corner. The faint scent of spice clung in the stuffy air. The contents of these records had engrossed him.
Spock only stirred from the research when Una reached the back-lit surface. He ceased typing but kept a hold of the scroll which Una could now see was marked with the language of the Illyrians.
"Commander, is there something I can help you with?"
A ghost of a smile flitted over Una's face. When she said something along those lines it roughly translated to - 'Go away, can't you see I'm busy.' Fortunately, Spock didn't have it in him for sarcasm, or did he?
"What, can't I check up on my Chief Science Officer who just had their first ion-storm sleepover?" She smiled sweetly.
A reluctant smile pulled at Spock's lips. "It was an interesting experience."
Number One chuckled, hearing the unspoken complaint. "How long did it take before he started pacing?"
Spock's eyebrow slanted upward sharply, surprised by the XO's ability to deduce the Captain's behaviour so accurately.
"1 hour, 21 minutes." Spock's eyes gleamed with humour. "It was most frustrating."
Una grinned and began to laugh fondly. "That's the Captain. Can't keep him still for long, trust me I've tried everything."
"Perhaps you should have tried an iron storm and a contingent of 'plasma ghosts'. The Captain did not move for a considerable amount of time after that."
Una hmmed as if making a note of the new strategy. "Plasma ghosts?"
Spock's head shook minutely as he distanced himself from the inaccuracy. "The Captain's description."
Number One read between the lines, Spock was diplomatically calling Chris an idiot. God bless the scientists and their search for the facts.
A comfortable silence fell over the pair, and Spock restarted his data logging. Una eyed the scroll, feeling her heart race just that little faster.
"There was something I was hoping to look at."
Spock finished his entry and stopped typing, his attention returning to the Commander.
"The Captain mentioned you had discovered some interesting revelations about the colonists, I was hoping to see the texts for myself."
Spock raised one brow and surrendered the tube he had been studying. "Indeed."
Una took the tube and began to study it under the light, turning the capsule at an accelerated rate. It was true, they had figured out how to de-augment themselves. The colonists wanted so badly to become a part of the federation that they risked everything, Una could relate.
"Did you find any other information relating to the de-augmenting process?"
Spock frowned lightly. "Not yet. Although I am unsure how reliable any data would be."
Una noted the cautious tone in Spock's voice, she replaced the data scroll on the table and studied him more closely.
"Why wouldn't it be reliable Spock?"
Spock went back to typing, avoiding eye contact.
Curious.
"The de-augmenting process the Illyrians underwent was dangerous and ultimately proved fatal, therefore it is unlikely their records on the matter could be used by others."
Una felt a pang in her chest, the hope of being normal slipping away. "From my understanding, the virus killed the Illyrians."
"That is also unclear, and so is the origin of the virus. It is entirely possible that by altering their genetics they created the virus that eventually destroyed the colony."
The first officer frowned, why was Spock playing devil's advocate here? Without proof of either outcome, why was he convinced of one hypothesis?
"De-augmenting could provide a lifeline to hundreds of Illyrians, who wish for access to the Federation as this colony did."
Spock stopped mid-typing, looking her in the eye for the first time since their debate began.
"The risk is too great, the ramifications unforeseeable. It would be far safer to hide one's ancestry, hoping for the day when the Federation comes to terms with its bigotry."
Una inhaled sharply, how on earth did Spock find out? His anti-experiment stance was starting to make more sense now, he didn't want her to go through with de-augmenting.
The first officer glanced back at the door, making sure it was firmly sealed before she stepped into Spock's space and hissed. "Who told you?"
Spock did not react to the intrusion, his features remained stoic even if his eyes betrayed light anxiety.
"I do not know what you are referring-"
"Cut the shit, Spock." Una interrupted hotly. "Don't get cute with me. How did you find out?"
How did you discover that I am an Illyrian...
Although neither of them had uttered the damning fact, it was clear to both parties what was being discussed - Una's heritage. Spock didn't insult her intelligence anymore with further denials. He too lowered his voice.
"Noone betrayed your trust Commander. It was my investigation that led me to the conclusion."
A flush crept up Una's neck, she began to feel hot despite the environmental controls being set to cool lab conditions. "Explain."
Spock simply nodded and methodically began to explain the evidence he had witnessed, and the revelations each piece had caused.
"Naturally when Captain Pike and I returned to Enterprise, I was curious as to how the crew had managed to eliminate the virus when the Illyrians below had not. I spoke to various members of the medical department, including Nurse Chapel who eluded to an antidote being discovered."
"However when I researched the virus itself, it was obvious that no antidote could have been created in such a short amount of time - despite Nurse Chapel's considerable genetic skill. Therefore, logically the only source of a cure would have originated from antibodies, somebody with natural immunity."
Una closed her eyes as she realised this was in fact her doing, she had always encouraged Spock to dig into mysteries. Science must always be understood. Now the young science officer was like a dog with a bone.
"I studied the genome which Nurse Chapel used for the cure but I did not recognise any part of the sequence. I cross-referenced the data against the ship's database which confirmed my suspicion - the antibodies simply could not have been created by anyone aboard."
"This fact stalled me for quite some time, that was until I performed a database search for species with immunity to diseases. That was when I noticed several files accessed during the crisis, files relating to Illyrian disease control. Naturally, I focussed on the person who was reading those files."
Number One held her head in her hands at that, how stupid was she? Those files were damning in themselves.
"That fact combined with your interest in the colony's de-augmenting process, your superior strength, improved intelligence and reflexes, and the fact that you were the last one left standing on the Enterprise."
She lifted her head and looked directly at Spock, he had her - no point in hiding her reactions now.
"I'm an Illyrian." Una finished for him quietly. Spock's deductions deserved a positive conclusion.
"Indeed." Spock finished quietly, facial expression blank and unreadable.
The first officer remained still and silent, her mind worked furiously but could offer no solution to this mess. Her gaze darted left and right, paranoid of any other crewman in the vicinity. Her long-guarded secret was getting out, one person at a time. How many more people before the news reached Starfleet?
"I will of course keep this deduction to myself." Spock picked up on her thoughts, because of course he did. He was basically a mind-reader these days, even with her. Number one had always thought herself closed off, when had that changed?
"Your secret is safe with me."
Hearing the Vulcan's sincerity stopped her self-destructive spiral. Una stopped thinking about the nearest route to an airlock and something loosened in her chest, this was Spock they were talking about. His earnest expression was as steadfast as his promises, of that she had no doubt.
Una forced her tense posture to slacken and she took in a deep breath, recalling the last secret Spock had kept for her. "I am the very model of a modern major-general."
It had been years since that day in the lift but Spock's mind tracked back with ease. "You offered me advice that day, which has helped me in my Starfleet career."
"I remember," Una replied, her gaze distant as she recalled their first meeting. "Keep your freaky to yourself."
The first officer chuckled darkly and looked at the Illyrian scroll in her hands. "Now you know just how freaky I am."
Spock eased off his stool and walked around the side of the illuminated table until they were standing next to one another. "It was not my intent to cause discomfort, I only wished to offer some advice of my own."
Una's forehead creased and met the young Vulcan's gaze. "Go ahead."
"Do not change who you are, not for Starfleet, not for anyone."
Number One didn't have the energy to hide her surprise, her lips parted into an o-shape and her eyes flicked up and down Spock's face. That was not the form Spock's advice was supposed to take.
Spock continued undeterred. "Hiding your heritage is unpleasant, but altering who you are to simply 'fit in' will leave you unfulfilled and unsatisfied."
Una sighed as all the pieces clicked into place, her brain was slower than usual. It was sometimes easy to forget that Spock was a hybrid of two worlds. It occurred to her that the young Vulcan still wasn't sure of his half-human side.
"Then what do I do Spock? I do want to be an Illyrian but the federation has forbidden such a circumstance."
"That I do not know." Spock's brows furrowed and his eyes looked oddly vulnerable - and human - in the lab's bright lighting. "I believe the Captain would suggest 'having faith', that Starfleet will eventually come to a new conclusion regarding Illyrians."
"But..." Una prompted, sensing Spock's thoughts on such a miracle happening.
"But, if the time ever arrives when your heritage is brought into question. I will gladly defend your position within Starfleet, conceal the truth if at all possible and inform the admirals that you are one of the finest people that I have had the pleasure to serve with. Noone should be punished nor judged based purely upon where they originate from."
Spock's eyes blazed with an intensity Una had rarely seen, the promise he had just uttered made the hairs on the back of her neck rise. Una swallowed the lump in her throat. She had a good crew and good friends.
"The Captain said the same thing."
Spock nodded once. "As he should." Like it was that simple.
Una did not relish the day when her secret was revealed when her crewmates were forced to choose sides. Their loyalty was heart-warming but she despaired for what an act would do to many promising careers. It was a lot to ask for.
Spock sensed her thoughts once more, noting her troubled expression. "There is little use in weeping over milk which has not yet been spilt."
Number One couldn't help it, she laughed. Spock was trying to learn all of the Captain's sayings but he still had a long way to go. "Nice try, Spock."
The Vulcan raised a brow, seemingly filing away the mistake for future reference. His purpose had been completed regardless, Una was no longer drowning in the misery of what might be. He was right, it was a waste of energy and time.
Una returned the Illyrian scroll to Spock's hands; she deleted the de-augmenting information from her mind. She didn't want to change her genetics, she'd just thought it the only logical course of action. Perhaps it was logical, but that didn't make it the right choice. How ironic that Spock had been the one to reach her emotional side.
She straightened her uniform and made sure to wipe any residue of moisture from her eyes before turning towards the door - back in Commander mode. "Thank you for letting me see the research, Spock."
Spock returned to his lab stool, any trace of the conversation they'd just had erased from his face. "Of course Number One, if you need any aid in research..."
Una stopped at the door and looked back at the science officer, back in his original position and just now making a start on his spiced tea.
"I know where to find you." She finished, inclining her head in gratitude over the unspoken offer.
Una activated the door controls and strode out of the lab, her heels clicking together as the first officer's confidence returned. Number One was back.