Title: Too Much Information
Author: mzsnaz
Series: TOS
Rated: G
Disclaimer: Star Trek belongs to
Summary: Young Spock makes an important discovery about… the color
spectrum. Based on a true story.
Sarek of Vulcan entered the familial home of his ancestors and allowed his eyes
to close for a moment. It had been what humans referred to as a 'long'
day. Not one of the delegates involved in the Carimi
Two negotiations appeared interested in concessions of any sort; therefore, the
entire day ended with no progress on the proposed treaty. It was
frustrating even to a seasoned diplomat.
The cooler air in the home circulated around him as he walked, his robes
swirling at his feet. Amanda often lowered the thermostat to a point below
Vulcan comfort levels during the day. The heat of the summer was
oppressive even to those native born to the desert planet; therefore, he could
not fault his human wife for doing what she could to stay comfortable.
After the birth of their son, Amanda had become the full-time parent, forsaking
her career until Spock entered school. That momentous event was to take
place in one week's time...perhaps. Sarek pursed his lips together as his
thoughts darkened. Spock was an exceptionally intelligent child: that was
not in dispute. He had already surpassed children his own age in academic
testing and psi ability. No parent could ask
for a brighter child; however, in terms of behavior and emotional control,
Spock faltered precipitously between a desire to listen and an oft stronger
longing to do as he pleased. The child could sit for hours engrossed in a
project that most human children would have abandoned within minutes – and that
was, ironically, the problem.
Spock, at the age of three, would forget that there were basic biological
signals that had to be heeded even by 'tian-tists',
as the child was fond of saying. He would work on his little projects
until they were complete, and then he would panic when he was unable to reach
the lavatory. Twice in the past week he hadn't made it in time.
Sarek had not been able to find a satisfactory discipline for such behavior,
and Amanda had also not been successful even when she reminded their son
frequently of the need to take a break. The boy would merely shake his
head when asked if he needed to go, and then would finish the task at hand.
Sarek walked down the hallway toward the shared office he and his wife
maintained at home. Often, Amanda would be working on a project of her
own while Spock sat in the middle of the floor with his own 'work'. This
evening, however, the office was empty.
Murmurs from Spock's bedroom caught his attention even as the door opened.
"No, I will not tell him," a soft female voice said. "I
think it best if you keep this between the two of us."
"My wife," Sarek said, watching the scene before him with growing
consternation. Amanda had a decidedly guilty appearance, which was the
antithesis of their son's almost too pleased look.
"Father, I have made a d'covery."
"Discovery," Sarek gently corrected. "What have you
discovered, my son?"
"Sarek." Amanda began, but then she clamped
her mouth shut and shrugged. Her odd behavior earned her a curious look
from her husband.
"Has there been another lavatory problem?" he asked.
Spock vigorously shook his head. "No, Father. I have been quite
good today."
"Then what have you discovered."
The little Vulcan boy pulled back his shoulder blades proudly and lifted his
head so that he could better look up into his father's eyes. "I d'covered something about
colors."
"Sarek."
The Vulcan ambassador raised an eyebrow at his wife. "My wife, allow
the boy to continue. What did you discover about colors?"
"I d'covered that yellow and blue make
green."
"Yellow and blue make green..." Sarek said, puzzling over the
obvious. Amanda had drawn her lips into a tight line that Sarek
recognized as her way to prevent laughter. What was so amusing about
colors?
"Yes, Father," Spock said as he tilted his head and continued to peer
up. "Yellow and blue make green. I d'covered this today while mother was cleaning the
lavatory."
Cleaning the lavatory? Sarek raised the other eyebrow as he put the
entire scenario together. The lavatory had an auto-clean utility that had
to be activated weekly. It only involved pushing a button for the blue
sanitizer to fill the sink basin and toilet. Often, a blue residue would
remain until it could be washed away. Or flushed away.
"Yellow and blue." Sarek repeated, and this
time Amanda turned and nearly ran out the door before her laughter could be
heard.
Spock merely shook his head. "Mother has been doing that quite a bit
lately, Father."
"Yes, she has."
"I like making tian'tist d'coveries."
Sarek nodded slowly. "So I see. Spock, it would be wise for
you to keep this discovery between family."
"May I tell Grandfather?"
At the thought, Sarek felt his mouth twitch upward slightly. "You
may tell your Grandfather. I do not believe your Grandmother would
appreciate your discovery."
"No, she's not as tian'tific as
Grandfather," Spock concluded. The little boy ran toward the
door. "Father, may I be excused? I
want to go d'cover other things."
Sarek's nod was all that the child needed to see. Sarek sighed deeply as
he watched his son disappear out the door. Skon would appreciate the
humor of the situation just as T'Lara would
not. It was impossible for him to remember ever being as energetic or
intensely curious as his son, but Sarek remembered something his father had
said to him just before Spock's birth. `I hope your child is like you
were as a child.' Amanda had said that her parents had offered a similar
sentiment when they were informed that they would be grandparents. The
question now was this.
Was the sentiment meant as a compliment? Or…was it a curse?
The End