Wish me success, Kirk! Korrd out." The captain cut the connection with a
grin, shaking his head.
The bridge crew looked as though they didn't know whether to laugh or
cry, cheer or curse. Chekov seemed to be doing a little of everything,
mostly in Russian.
"Well, I'll be damned," Kirk said, to no one in particular.
"That was ... close."
The first thing Sarek was conscious of upon waking was that the pain
from the senapa wound was gone ... vanished. He did not have to exert
biocontrol to repress it. The second thing the ambassador realized, as
soon as he opened his eyes, was that he was in the Enterprise's sickbay.
The bed he was resting in was in a secluded alcove.
Glancing around, Sarek saw that his son occupied a bed across from him.
Spock's eyes were closed ... he was breath ing deeply. Asleep.
Events rushed back as the ambassador stretched cautiously.
The fight with Taryn ... beaming over to the Enterprise. McCoy's fight
to save the wing commander. The last thing Sarek remembered was being
hooked up to a blood-filtration device, at the same time as Spock was
readied for a massive transfusion. Spock's blood now coursed through his
veins ... Spock's blood had helped to preserve his life.
Just as it had all those years ago ... Slowly, the ambassador sat up,
then reached for the intercom switch beside the bed. He summoned one of
McCoy's nurses, and, when the man appeared, he made a request.
Minutes later, Sarek held in his hands one of the red volumes of his
wife's journal. Swiftly, the Vulcan flipped through the pages, searching
for a particular entry ... and found it ...
December 7,2267 Sarek is safe ... Dr. McCoy operated on his heart, and
he will be fine--mere words cannot convey my relief. I really thought
that I was going to lose him. Oh, Sarek ... if you weren't in my life
anymore, I don't know how I would go on. I would NOT want to go on.
But, thankfully, I don't have to face such desolation.
Something ... the gods, fate, fortune ... if there is a governing
force to the cosmos, today It was kind.
And today ... for the first time in eighteen long years ... today we
were a family again. It was wonderful.
I had given up hope that those two stubborn Vulcans would ever
reconcile--and, yet today they were both teasing me about logic, and the
glint of humor in Spock's eyes matched the one in Sarek T This evening
McCoy agreed to let ta all have dinner in sickbay, and we ate together
as a family--with an honored guest, of course. Captain Kirk is such a
charmer!
And he knows it, too ... ) It has indeed been an eventful day. I am
tired out, yet I don't want to sleep, yet. I want to savor the knowledge
that we are a family again, and that my son and husband are on good
terms.
Family ... what a lovely word. I don't think there is a better one in
the entire language ... After so many years of enmity and anger ...
family. I pray that their goodwill toward each other will continue.
They are both so stiffnecked, so stubborn./Neither is ever willing to
admit that he was wrong ... especially Sarek.
But today the fates were kind, and we were spared a tragedy. I wonder if
I would truly have hated my son for the rest of his life if he had
allowed his father to die because he felt he could not give over command
of his vessel? Or would I have forgiven him eventually?
Thank heavens I will never have to find out ...
The entry ended there. Slowly, thoughtfully, Sarek closed the journal,
struck by his wife's words, written so long ago.
Amanda could almost have been describing the present situation between
Spock and himself ... Amanda ... he thought, gazing across the room at
his son's sleeping face. Amanda, what shoum I do now?
As it happened, Spock was riot asleep. He lay quietly, breathing deeply,
relaxed, but he was fully aware that his father was reading one of his
mother's journals. As he watched surreptitiously, he saw the elder
Vulcan put the slim volume down with a sigh.
The first officer thought of the events of the previous day, recalling,
with a chill, Sarek's duel with Taryn. Several times, as he'd watched
from the sidelines, Spock had been convinced that the ambassador was
finished ... but always, Sarek had rallied and fought back with a skill
that had surprised and impressed his offspring.
Spock had never realized that his father, the diplomat, had so mastered
the ancient fighting techniques. And then, as Taryn had lain there,
gasping his last, Sarek had melded with him, saving the wing commander's
life. The first officer repressed a surge of envy. His father had never
chosen to meld with him ... but he had not hesitated to join his mind
with a stranger's ...
Glancing around the sickbay as McCoy bustled around in the next room,
checking on several patients who had been injured during the
Enterprise's battle with Kamarag's ship, Spock experienced a strong
flash of djh vu.
The Vulcan remembered that day his mother had come to his quarters,
begging him to go to his father and give Sarek the blood transfusion
that would enable McCoy to operate, and thus save Sarek's life. Amanda
had come to him, had begged with tears in her eyes ... and he, Spock,
had refused to go.
Because of duty.
He had told his mother that he could not, would not go to Sarek, and the
reason he had given her was that duty
demanded that he remain in command of the Enterprise ...
Remembering Amanda's response to his words, the Vulcan raised a hand to
his cheek. For a moment he almost reexperienced the slap she had given
him ... for a moment he could almost feel the sting. Spock recalled
being surprised by the strength of the blow--he'd received many in
fights that hadn't matched its impact.
Duty ... duty ... duty ... The word whispered through his mind,
sounding vaguely obscene when it was repeated enough times to lose all
meaning. Spock glanced over at his father, remembering the way he had
condemned Sarek for doing exactly what he himself had done, twenty-six
years before.
I am sorry, Mother, he thought, not quite sure what he was apologizing
for ... the events of that day twenty-six years ago, or what he'd said
to his father only days ago? He thought he'd grown more than his father.
But had he really?
Perhaps not ... "Spock ..." Sarek's voice reached him. Instantly Spock
sat up and regarded the ambassador.
"I am here ... sir," he said.
"Are you ... well?" the elder Vulcan asked, eyeing him measuringly.
"I am," Spock said. "And you?"
"Well," Sarek said, sounding slightly surprised. "Though thirsty. And
rather weak."
Spock glanced around the sickbay, saw no attendants, and, rather than
buzz for one, got up himself, poured a glass of water, and took it to
his father. "Here," he said, prepared to help the elder Vulcan sit up if
he needed it, but Sarek was able to do so unaided.
The ambassador sipped gratefully at the cool water. "And you, my son?"
he asked, putting the glass down.
"I am well," Spock said.
"The Klingon fleet?" Sarek asked.
"The Enterprise engaged Kamarag's ship, backed by Poldar aboard
Shardarr. "Spock raised an eyebrow. "And it
seems that your old acquaintance Keraz threw in his lot with the forces
of law and order. The captain was in to visit me several hours ago, ,and
told me that Azetbur has promised the commander a full pardon."
Sarek nodded. "What of Kamarag?"
"Enterprise managed to cripple his ship. I gather that Kamarag did not
choose to live through his defeat."
The ambassador nodded. "Loss of life is always regrettable, but ...
perhaps ... this is one time it is better so." The elder Vulcan glanced
over at the other diagnostic couch.
"Commander Taryn's readings are almost normal, now," he observed.
"Yes, McCoy says he's sleeping normally. He'll be able to return to his
ship within a day." Spock gazed at Sarek.
"From what little I heard of what he said to you and Poldar, his
experience during the duel and the mind-meld evidently ... changed
Taryn."
"He is grateful to me for saving his life," Sarek said. "But, even more,
he feels that he has regained his Vulcan heritage, apparently through
our mental link. I gather that his past had haunted him all his life.
When he faced, with me, what he most feared ... it lost its power over
him."
"What will happen now with the Vulcans on Freelan?"
"Taryn will escort us to Freelan and authorize any of them that choose
to leave aboard the Enterprise as free to go," the ambassador replied.
"But after the Vulcans who wish to emigrate are released," Spock
ventured, after a few minutes, "what will happen to Taryn? Do you think
he will come to Vulcan with the others?"
Sarek shook his head. "No," he said, and there was more than a touch of
sadness in his expression. "Taryn will go back to Romulus, to face his
superiors and his praetor. He has not said so, but I know his mind,
now."
"But ... if he does that, he will be executed for treason," Spock said.
"Yes," Sarek agreed, holding his son's eyes with his own.
"But he believes it is his duty ... and, after my recent
actions, who am I to tell anyone not to fulfill his duty, no matter what
the cost?"
The two Vulcans shared a long, unblinking look; then Spock swallowed.
His voice, when he spoke, had a rough edge, like a jagged tear in dark
velvet. "Father ..." The word emerged with difficulty after all these
days. "About what I said after mother's memorial service ..." He paused,
searching for words.
Grief mixed with a touch of hope flared in the ambassador's eyes. "Yes,
my son?" Before Spock could continue, he raised a hand. "I must tell you
that I have thought a great deal on what you said, after the memorial
service. I only hope that my actions did not hasten Amanda's end. You
may have been right when you accused me of going because I lacked the
courage to stay, Spock ... "
"And I may have been wrong, Father," Spock said, forcing the words out.
"I know, now, that my mother's death was inevitable. Remember, Dr. McCoy
told us that she had only days. And ... there is something else I must
tell you "
"Yes?"
"When I told you that Mother could not find peace,
I ... may not have been entirely correct."
Sarek raised an eyebrow.
"I was angry," Spock said, not allowing himself to sound defensive at
the admission, "and what I said, for the most part, was the truth ...
but ... at the very end ..." He had to stop, take a deep breath, before
he could go on. "She relaxed. She even smiled. She appeared peaceful."
Sarek nodded silently, and it was a long time before the ambassador
spoke. Finally he stirred. "Thank you, my son," he said softly. "Your
words have meant a great deal to me."
Valdyr watched Dr. McCoy check the regenerated tissue on her wound. She
had on a bizarre, blue, two-piece outfit one of the female nurses
brought for her to wear until her own clothes could be cleaned and
repaired. The garments were comfortable--too comfortable, she
thought--but they were so flimsy she wasn't entirely convinced they
would survive her normal activities. McCoy had discreetly lifted the top
over her abdomen and was running his hand gently over the new tissue.
She grimaced, peeking at it herself.
"That doesn't hurt, does it?" McCoy asked her, as he poked around.
"Of course not," Valdyr said sternly. As if any Klingon would have
admitted if it did! McCoy looked at her and she could see the amusement
etched on his face." He'd been so kind to her, she couldn't help but
relax around him. "Well," she admitted reluctantly, "it did at
first--just a little. Now, all it does is itch."
"That won't last, miss," he assured her. "Another day or so, and you
won't even know anything ever happened there."
She made a face at him, and he grinned. "How can you say that when that
place is all pale and soft.t"
"As your own cells replace it," McCoy said, "that'll be fixed, too. We
wouldn't want you looking like a patched-up battleship!" The sickbay
doors whooshed open, making both of them turn to see Peter enter the
exam area. The cadet looked at them quizzically, as if wondering if he'd
come at a bad time. McCoy waved him over as he covered the wound.
"However, I should tell you, Valdyr, human males like a little softness
in a woman." He raised an eyebrow at Peter, who gave them an embarrassed
smile.
"Not that one," Valdyr said confidently--and her words made Peter's face
turn crimson.
The cadet glowered at her disapprovingly. "I think you're feeling too
well," he decided.
"She's doing great," confirmed McCoy, "thanks to her amazing
constitution. I take it you're here to take my favorite patient away
from me?"
"Yes, sir," Peter said. Turning to Valdyr, he told her,
"We've got your quarters all prepared. It's time you gave up that bed to
someone who really needs it." At that moment, the doors opened, and Jim
Kirk entered.
"You've had half the ship locked away in here, Bones," the captain
complained good-naturedly. Eyeing Valdyr, the captain smiled and nodded.
"How are you feeling?"
She nodded back reservedly. He had come to her, himself, to tell her of
her uncle's death following the Heghba'. It had been a sign of great
respect, and she'd appreciated it. He had not flinched, either, when
she'd voiced the ritual howl.
Valdyr was coming to think humans weren't nearly as weak as she'd been
led to believe.
"We were just about to inspect Valdyr's quarters, Uncle Jim," Peter told
him. "Dr. McCoy told me this morning she could be released."
Kirk nodded and turned back to Valdyr. "I'm here on official business."
He looked at Valdyr meaningfully. "A little more pleasant business than
the last time, thank goodness. Miss. Valdyr, Chancellor Azetbur has
asked to speak with you."
"With me?" Valdyr said, incr
edulously. "The chancellor would speak with
me?"
Kirk walked over to the wall viewscreen and tapped a sequence on the
control panel. A Klingon face appeared.
"Tell the chancellor that Valdyr is here, ready to speak with her."
Valdyr's heart was hammering.
Suddenly, Chancellor Azetbur's image filled the screen.
She looked so stern, so powerful, so impossibly noble and honorable that
Valdyr simply stared, transfixed. She reminded the young Klingon woman
of the portrait in her uncle's home. "Chancellor ..." Valdyr finally
managed to whisper.
Azetbur's face warmed into a gracious smile. "Valdyr! It is an honor to
speak with you. And a pleasure."
Azetbur felt honored to meet her? Valdyr's gaped. "Oh, no, Chancellor. I
have no honor ... I betrayed--"
"Nonsense!" the chancellor interrupted briskly. "None of our people has
more honor. You risked everything to save Qo'nos and our people--and you
succeeded. You received an honorable wound in battle. You helped to save
the honor of your family, from Kamarag's attempt to destroy it.
Qo'nos will never forget your sacrifice. While you were recovering, I
have spoken to the people who know you well.
Star Trek - Sarek Page 46