Disclaimer: I do not own Star Trek or Spock sadly. I only ask to play in their world for a little while for no monetary gain I hope that people like this strange little story of mine even though it is mainly about an original character and her coming of age. Feel free to review and tell what you think!
A cold beginning
It was a cold rainy October night at the Sarah's orphanage in Seattle Washington. It was very late and all the little ones were sound asleep much to Sarah's relief. She loved the children but they wore her poor old bones out. Sarah was in her early seventies but thanks to modern medicine she looked no older than her late fifties. Her graying auburn hair that was usually tied up in a school teacher knot on the back of her head was now loose around her shoulders. She had long since put on her long white night gown for bed and was heading up stairs when she heard a weak cry that came from the front door. Sarah carefully went to the front door and opened it slowly, peaking around the corners of the dark street in front of her house, there was nothing there. Sarah was about to close the door when she heard the weak cry again and realized it was coming from the stone steps. She looked down and saw a baby no older than a few weeks wrapped in a thin blanket. "The poor thing is soaked and freezing!" Sara thought bitterly to herself, thinking nasty names for whoever left the poor thing like this. Sara picked up the child and brought it quickly into the house. She took off the wet blanket that the baby had long since soiled and gasped. "This little girl is Vulcan, or at least half," Sarah thought as she dried the baby off with a dry towel from the kitchen. Sarah was now enraged, a human baby left in that weather could barely survive long. To a warm blooded, desert species Vulcan child that was literally a death sentence. Sarah looked at the cute little thing that was now quiet as a mouse. "You are a strong one, aren't you?" she cooed to the baby, letting her anger subside. The baby needed her.
***
"Ambassador Spock there is a message for you in your office" the young assistant said as Spock walked by he nodded in acknowledgment and then went into his office and closed the door. There was so much to do and not enough time to do it, he still had much research he was planning to do on certain genealogy, Spock sighed, "Play message" he said in a voice full of forced energy of years of practice. An image appeared on his desk of an auburn haired elderly human female that Spock had never met before. "Ambassador Spock, I am Sarah Hardin from Earth, it is an honor to speak with you. I would not bother someone of your position about his except that no one of earth knows what is the proper protocols of dealing with something of this nature would be so naturally they directed me to you" Spock raised an eye brow "Why do humans seem to have trouble getting to the point,?" He thought, he was amused more than annoyed, of course neither emotion showed on his perfectly set Vulcan face. As if the image read his mind she continued
"To get to the point a Vulcan or perhaps half Vulcan baby has been left on the door step of my orphanage and I need instruction on whether Vulcan wants the child or should I keep the child here on earth. We have done no medical test except to make sure the baby is healthy, I am awaiting Vulcan's decision, thank you for your time in this matter Ambassador. "The image faded away. "Replay message ambassador?" the computer prompted. "No, save and file," Spock said, now deep in thought. Nothing of this nature had ever occurred before. Why would a Vulcan leave their child in an earth orphanage? It was highly illogical. This was mystery that needed to be solved.
Sarah was sad to receive the message that the child was returning to Vulcan but knew that it was probably for the best. She knew that Humans are so intolerant sometimes. What had surprised her was that Ambassador Spock was coming here personally to take the child to Vulcan. Well at least I will get to meet a legend before I die, "Sarah thought as she dressed the baby for the journey to Vulcan. Sarah at first was unsettled by how little the baby cried, if she did it was in desperate need. Sarah soon realized that this must come from her Vulcan blood. A knock on the door told Sarah that the Ambassador had arrived. Sarah picked up the baby "Ready to go meet your new Caretaker" Sarah said smiling at the cute little baby. Sarah then quickly took the child and went downstairs to answer the door. Sarah nervously opened the door and there in front of her was Ambassador Spock in his Vulcan robes and a young woman who Sarah presumed was his assistant. "Welcome Ambassador, please come in." Sarah said standing back from the door and motioning him to enter the house.
"Thank you Miss Hardin, this is Ana, a nurse maid I have brought with me to care for the child" Spock responded and entered the house. "This is the child you Spoke of I presume," Spock said looking at the baby in Sarah's arms.
"Yes Ambassador, have you had any luck in finding her parents through the blood sample I sent?" Sarah asked as she motioned for the Ambassador to sit down on the couch in the living room.
"No, I have not, unfortunately, all that we know right now is that she is half Vulcan and half human." Spock said both he and Ana sitting down. "I want to thank you for you care of the child; you will always be a friend to Vulcan and welcome to visit, on our expense. " Spock said. Sarah blushed. "It was nothing Ambassador, as you can see taking care of children is my life's work," Sara said embarrassed by the attention. "Do you want to hold the child?" Sarah said trying to take the attention away from her self.
"Yes, I would like to examine her," Spock said his expression remained unreadable. Sarah handed the child to Spock without another word. Sarah watched as he held the child, if she didn't know better she would have thought that Spock was looking at the child with compassion. Perhaps she was seeing things, perhaps she was not.
"Very well, I see that she is healthy for transport," Spock said handing the baby back to Ana.
"Do you have an adoptive family arranged for her?" Sarah asked.
"Yes, my house will adopt her; there is nothing better than a new mystery in a Vulcan household Spock said.
"So you and your wife will care for the child?" Sarah asked, suddenly realizing that she did not know if the Ambassador was even married.
"No, I am away too often and I have no mate, my father's nephew recently married and volunteered to take care of the child. Do not be concerned, she will be provided for," Spock said his face still in its stone composure. Sarah felt a little better now knowing that the child was still going to be looked after by someone the Ambassador trusted. "That is good, I had no doubts that you would make the proper arrangements Ambassador its just that I have grown attached to her and wanted to be reassured, that's all," Sarah said feeling embarrassed that she had made him think that she did not trust him to take care of the child properly.
"No offence was taken, however I do believe that we should be on our way to Vulcan," Spock said deciding not to prolong the woman's separation from the child any longer since it caused her grief he did not want to make it worse by having her thinking about as they chatted.
"Yes Ambassador, let me get the basket and her diaper bag," Sarah said jumping up and going to the other room, leaving the child in Ana's arms while she grabbed the stuff. Sarah returned after only a few short minutes and took the baby from Ana and put her in the carrying basket lined with blankets. Here is the diaper bag with enough supplies to last until you arrive on Vulcan, after that I am afraid you are on your own," Sarah said in an apologetic voice.
"Thank you again for you assistance Miss. Hardin," Spock said. Sarah stroked the child's head gently as tear ran down her face. "Take care little one," With those words Spock and Ana left with the child.
M'ara
M'ara sat looking out the transport window with her long deep red hair pinned back regulation style on the top of her head. Her grey blue eyes were unreadable, Vulcan. M'ara knew that her training on Vulcan would not totally prepare her for what she was about to do, join Star Fleet. M'ara's thoughts consumed her as she could now see the Star Fleet training facility outside of her transport window. The decision to join Star fleet like her adopted cousin Spock was brewing for several years but became absolute only weeks earlier when she visited Spock's home…
M'ara walked into Spock's house on Vulcan almost unable to contain her emotions. Today was suppose to be the day that she decided what course she was to take in life, a coming of age but it felt more like a void, an abyss she could not escape from. Meditation had failed M'ara for one of the few times in her life and so she came to the one place she felt comfortable admitting that her Vulcan heritage had failed her. M'ara walked down the long open corridor until she came to the main entertaining room. Spock sat by the fire reading a book from earth that she had seen him read many times, a book that Jim Kirk had given him as a birthday present. She sighed, "Spock may not be in the best of moods to help her today" M'ara thought. It had been several years since Kirk died but Spock was still not the same, and she didn't know if he ever would be.
"I heard that the family is in an up roar M'ara, what is it that you have done?" Spock said putting down his book, his deep brown eyes looking intensely at her. M'ara sighed and sat down on the couch next to Spock. "I have done nothing but ask a question about earth, they treat it as if it is a crime," M'ara said looking down at her knees. It was so easy to be herself around Spock and not have to put her Vulcan façade.
"They fear that you will leave them to explore your human half, you, even more than I did, have a reason to be curious." Spock said putting his hand on my shoulder. His eyes betrayed him and showed his feelings of sympathy for her pain. "what should I do Spock, I do want to know about earth and try to find out who my parents were, why my parents left me there," M'ara said trying to control her emotions so tears would not flow."Since you have said that you found your answers, can you tell me what I should be seeking?"
"We are not all asking the same questions, I can only give my opinion, perhaps you should join Star fleet like my son, you can study earth medicine, now that you have a medical degree from the Vulcan Healing Institute. It would solve two problems at once, first, it would give you a chance to go to earth and find what you seek and Second, you know Serin's time will soon be upon him, you as his bond mate will be closer so he would not have to come back to Vulcan," Spock said as if he was solving a mathematical problem. Pon Farr was not something she wanted to think about. She and Serin did not get along well. serin was following in his Grandfathers footsteps to try to be purely Vulcan. M'ara knew who she wanted to be her bond mate, the father and not the son. She had never dared to speak this to Spock. However he did make a very logical point about Star Fleet. "I will consider this," M'ara said taking a deep breath out of nervousness. After a few moments M'ara returned home and meditated on Spock's advice.
The next morning M'ara applied to Star Fleet and received her duel citizenship. It took only a few weeks for M'ara to receive her acceptance letter from Star Fleet. The family of course was not very happy but they could see the logic in her decision. In their eyes she was being a dutiful Bond Mate. M'ara walked once again into Spock's house hoping that he had not left for a diplomatic journey. M'ara looked around the large house, the furniture was covered with light sheets as if being packed away for a long absence. Spock walked out of his bedroom where he was packing a suitcase of clothes. "M'ara what are you doing here?" Spock said, it was the first time Spock had ever treated her as if she did not have the right to be there. It shook her and she took a moment to answer. "I.. I'm sorry I just want to tell you about what I decided," M'ara said looking down. Spock sighed, no I am sorry, it is just that I am quite busy at the moment, tell me," he said putting a reassuring hand on her shoulder. M'ara looked up into Spock's deep brown eyes. "I have been accepted into Star Fleet and leave tomorrow morning with Serin," M'ara said.
"Congratulations, I wish you well, I have faith that you will succeed in all that you do. I am proud of you" Spock said to M'ara, his eyes sincere and showed an emotion M'ara could not name. "Spock are you leaving?" M'ara said looking around at all the covered furniture. "Yes," he said simply, M'ara could see that he was not going to elaborate unless she asked more questions. "When will you return?" M'ara asked, her breathing slowed, she could tell by the look in Spock's eyes that she would not like the answer.
"I do not think I will be returning M'ara," Spock said softly. M'ara knew that her face was not the perfect emotionless Vulcan façade but of shock and horror. "Spock, you can not leave…" Mara wanted to say, you can not leave me but decided against it.
"I must, there is something very important I have to do and I may not be able to return for sometime, if at all. M'ara, you have always been special to me, I need you to do something for me," Spock said taking M'ara by the shoulders. "Anything," M'ara said looking at Spock in the eyes. "I need for you to take care of my son. He is strong willed and will need a special woman to take care of him." Spock said his voice pleading. "Spock, you speak as if you are going to die…" M'ara said.
"Please, promise me, you both must take care of each other since I no longer can," Spock said. M'ara could hear the urgency in his usually calm voice. M'ara knew that whatever it was Spock was going to do it terrified him enough to try to make arrangements for his family. "All my inheritance goes to you and Serin, you both will want for nothing, I fear for my son more than for you because he does not have a flexible view of the world, you must try to save him from himself, I have failed him." Spock said with the same urgency and sadness in his voice. M'ara answered the only way she could. "I shall do as you ask Spock, I will take care of Serin as a Bond Mate should," M'ara said, feeling like part of her was dying as she made the promise. M'ara knew that she might regret this promise, but she could deny Spock nothing. "Thank you M'ara, it is late, I must finish packing to leave, live long and prosper," Spock said holding out his hand in the Vulcan salute. M'ara barely contained her tears as she formed her fingers into the Vulcan salute and pressed it in to his hand. She would show him how she felt because words failed her. Spock's eyes grew wide with understanding and feeling. M'ara could feel his feelings of love for her, but she did not know which kind. He reached up with is hand and wiped a tear that had escaped from her cheek. "It is for the best M'ara," Spock said and with those words he turned away and went back to his room to finish packing. M'ara knew that he had been dismissed perhaps for the last time by the only person who really understood her.
M'ara was brought back into the present by the sound of the shuttle to Start Fleet Academy docking. Serin stood beside her but might as well have been light years away. His light brown hair was neatly cut in the traditional Vulcan fashion. He stood with his hands behind his back, it was times like this he looked so much like a younger version of his father. His hair was lighter like his mother but other than that he was Spock's son through and through. His eyes were a deep brown like his fathers but they lacked his warmth. M'ara was glad that they were not to share a room. M'ara got her stuff and took a deep breath. She only hoped that Spock was right and that she was doing the right thing. If not, then this was going to be the biggest mistake of her life.