Chapter 1

Bombarding you with chapters guys . . . uh sorry about typos and errors :S my bad . . .

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*Eleven Years Later*

"Will there be food?"

"Yes."

"What about stars? Will I see stars?"

"It will be daytime on the planet."

"Will there be aliens?!"

Ambassador Wallace Stibbons, now fair of hair and with wise old eyes and creases on his face, looked down at the child sat next to him who was frantically trying to make herself tall enough to see out of the shuttlecrafts windows which proved slightly too high for her to get a good view of the outside environment. She was struggling to see the stars and planets that were racing by.

"Kestrel, stop fidgeting, you're pulling your safety harness!" Wallace snapped slightly too harshly. He winced at the child who looked up at him with round brown eyes. As she had grown, her eyes had become flecked with silver which shone as if they were captured stars in her eyes. She had also grown a mass of wavy brown hair which she always threatened to cut short because of how much the length irritated her, especially when she had a tantrum and loose strands caught in her eyelashes. Her father had instructed Wallace to give her a name that reflected strength and grace: Kestrel. Sometimes she reminded him of one. Although the clumsy child lacked grace at the moment, her strength and stubbornness made him recall a kestrel's persistence in a hunt.

"I just want to see what is happening." She grumbled moodily, crossing her strong arms across her chest and slumping further in the seat she was occupying.

"Well, you'll see plenty when we land," Wallace said tiredly.

If it had been up to him, Kestrel would have remained on Earth, with his wife. But as usual, his wife had sprung on him her plans to visit her sister who was off planet and she would be unable to look after the child they had adopted eleven years ago.

"Approaching Vulcan now sir, landing in seven minutes." The shuttle's pilot said over his shoulder to the Ambassador who nodded sharply.

He turned to the child who had begun biting the nails on her left hand, humming lowly under her breath and using her right hand to pick at a safety warning sticker that had been placed under the window she couldn't see out of. 

He sighed, straightening his robes, ready for their arrival, before turning to the child again, "What did I tell you about when we land?" He asked, trying to sound stern.

Kestrel looked up at her adoptive father and sighed. She always felt like she was in the way, being pushed aside when formal assignments came along or when the Federation needed him. She became excited when she realised she would be tagging along this time, only to be told that she must remain silent at all times, even when spoken to. She wondered if her father was worried she would say the wrong thing.

"I have to stay quiet unless spoken too. At no point in time will I do anything that may draw attention to myself. I am to sit quietly outside the council chambers and wait until the proceedings are over, then leave quietly with you." She recited, not keeping the tone of boredom out of her voice as she did so. The idea of being cooped up in a waiting room until Wallace was done with his business with the Vulcan high Council sounded as dull as if she had stayed at home.

Wallace nodded in response to the child then gripped his seat as they landed, the shuttle bouncing about slightly before settling down on the reddish rock soil that covered most of the planet Vulcan.

The craft doors opened and Kestrel shuffled out behind Wallace who walked with purpose and authority. Kez tried the same thing but couldn't match his long strides and had to hop and skip to keep up.

Awaiting their arrival was Sarek, the Ambassador to Earth. He stood with the strong stance and an emotionless face. He didn't show his surprise at seeing a child following the man he had expected to disembark from the ship. 

When Ambassador Wallace stopped in front of Sarek, he smiled.

"Thank you for inviting me to this proceeding, sir." Wallace said firmly.

Kez looked the Vulcan up and down, taking in the loose robes and pointed ears before she turned her gaze to the environment around her. Everything was the same reddish brown as the soil underfoot. Structures that could be natural or manmade loomed up in the distance and along the horizon. Rock faces, cliffs and mountains were also spread far and wide but from what Kez could assess everything looked barren. Why would anyone live here? she thought to herself.

Sarek regarded the fellow Ambassador with a nod then said blankly, "The invitation was for you alone. I  assume that this is Kestrel Stibbons, your daughter. Otherwise, I feel there was no need for you to extend the invitation." The Vulcan said with unmoving features.

Wallace shot a look down at Kez, warning her not to speak.

"You would assume correct, Sarek. But she is here for no important reason and I can assure you she will not be present at the proceedings." He said firmly.

Kez was too fixed on watching the older Vulcan's face which remained blank of any sort of emotion. Was he some kind of machine?

Thoughts and curiosity filled her mind but she pushed down the urge to speak.

The Vulcan acknowledged the Ambassador's response, nodded, then lead the way into a big building crafted from the same red soil as everything else.

Inside was richly decorated, contrary from what you'd guess from the outside. Shiny floors and walls tiled in old mosaic designs added personality and feeling to the building where its inhabitants lacked it.

Kez walked silently but couldn't help but make her footsteps ring out loudly, echoing around her enough to make her smile. She stopped when she got a warning glance shot her way by Wallace.

When the party came to a set of high double doors in a large round room, Wallace pointed to a cushioned section of chairs, "Please sit there and stay there. No wandering off. And stay quiet."

Kez slumped over to the seating area as the large double doors opened into a council chamber where many people were already waiting. They closed again, swallowing up Wallace, and Kez was left in miserable silence.

After what felt like hours, Kez resorted to clicking her tongue and laying upside down on the chairs, just for something to do. She was now convinced that the council meeting was going to take years.

She looked around the empty room and sighed again, her eyes flicking open when she thought of something to do.

No one was around, so no one would have to know, and no one would see her.

Sitting up, Kez focused on the furthest point in the room so that every section and piece was easily visualised in her head, a clear mental image building up. Then she squeezed her eyes together.

A cold rush fell over her body then passed as she opened her eyes. She was on the other side of the room, facing where she had previously been sat.

One minute she'd been there, and then she disappeared only to reappear milliseconds later on the other side of the room.

Smiling proudly, Kez walked back to the place she had started then did the whole process again. She vanished, only to reappear.

Again and again, she did this, porting from one place to another, laughing as she mastered longer distances and landing perfectly.

Wallace had warned her against porting around. People would know what she was then, and they might not take too kindly to it all.

Kez knew about her past. It was written in all the history books and archives, it was almost impossible not to know about it. She knew what she was, who she was, but above everything else, she knew she wasn't dangerous or evil, not like the rouge Sytrox who had single handily caused the destruction of her planet.

Porting for one final time, Kez didn't see the boy stood in the entrance watching her.

His brown eyes absorbed the scene, many thoughts passing through his quick and smart mind.

Finally, after watching the curious girl for another moment or two, Spock cleared his throat.

Startled, the girl looked up, and sat back down in her chair abruptly, a look of surprise and fear crossing her face.

Spock remained composed but inside he could feel an emotion that registered as somewhere along the line of happiness, though only a small twinkle in his eyes betrayed this.

Kez sat forward slightly, then smiled, "Hi."

Spock was slightly taken aback by her sudden speech but nodded slightly, "Hello. You are neither Human nor Vulcan."

Kez smiled at the peculiarness of the boy's speech.

"Uh, well I'm definitely not Vulcan." She chuckled slightly and stood up, "You know 'cause I don't have pointy ears." She giggled.

Spock stood still, "Are you ridiculing the appearance of the Vulcan people?"

Kez looked suddenly alarmed. "No!" she spluttered, "No, I was simply making an analysis. Sorry."

"Apology accepted," Spock said firmly, then walked forwards, "May I sit with you?"

Kez nodded and shifted to the side, making room for the Vulcan boy who must have been around her own age. On closer inspection, she could see that his lip was swollen.

"I thought Vulcans were peaceful." She said aloud, then clamped her hand over her mouth.

Spock's left eyebrow twitched slightly before he said, "I am guessing you are speaking in reference to my injuries. I was in a fight, something I do not wish to discuss."

Kez raised both her eyebrows then shrugged, "Fine. I'm Kestrel Stibbons, what's your name?"

Spock nodded, "Spock."

Kez smiled, "Spock? Aw, cute name!"

"I was named after one of our respected society builders. His name was also Spock." Spock said proudly.

Kez shuffled, she didn't know what she was named after.

"Whereas, from observations of Earth life forms; I believe a Kestrel to be a bird of prey." Spock continued. Kez admittedly couldn't argue with that.

"But I am detecting that you are not a human although of Humanoid appearance." He said softly.

"True." Kez had to admit again, feeling the conversation was lacking so decided to change the subject.

"So, is it true that Vulcans spend all day learning then apply for the science academy when they're older?"

Spock would have frowned at the question but remained composed, "That is true. I wish to attend the Science academy one day."

Kez chuckled, "Sounds  . . . uh, fun . . . I guess. I want to join Starfleet."

At that moment the doors of the council chambers opened and Wallace exited followed by Sarek.

"Spock? What are you doing here?" Sarek asked firmly.

Spock sprang to his feet, "Looking for you, Father." He said formally.

Wallace fixed his eyes on Kez, a stare that made her drop her gaze slightly, "We're leaving now, come along."

Kez stood up and looked at Spock offering a smile, "Good luck with the Science Academy thing. You should apply for Starfleet though; maybe you might find it fun." She whispered. Spock's face remained blank but his eyes flickered with something that looked like excitement, almost temptation.

"Thank you." He said hiding a small smile from his father but Kez saw.

"Kestrel!" Wallace barked, already halfway down the corridor.

Kez ran to keep up and turned to wave to Spock who desperately wanted to smile and wave back but was in the presence of his father so did neither.

"I liked him," Kez admitted falling into stride beside her father.

"You would," He answered, putting a protective arm around her lovingly.

"Why?" She asked, curious.

Wallace Stibbons just smiled knowingly and continued walking.