Disclaimer: In real life Star Trek belongs to Paramount and Eugene Wesley "Gene" Roddenberry RIP. However when I am sleeping, sometimes I dream that it belongs to me! And that's my only profit.

This story is inspired by Star Trek: The Animated Series, episode "Yesteryear". However Spock and Nyota are together and will appear in the final chapter. So I feel it belongs to ST 2009.

Letters in Italics represent people's inner thoughts. This chapter is edited by Aphrodite420 who I wish to thank because without her some phrases would sound, well… Greek.

Please forgive my simple vocabulary - English is not my native language.

Various shades of Gray

Prologue: Nine days ago

The aged healer walked inside the great hall of the enormous mansion. He wore no splendid robes and bore no emblems. Yet his presence made everyone in the room still.

The father walked toward him first and offered the ta'al. "Live long and prosper, healer."

A wizened hand rose to match the gesture. "Live long and prosper, Sarek of Vulcan." Then his sharp gaze went across the room to the other two people that were present.

"Is this the boy?" he asked.

Sarek nodded. "This is my son, Spock. And my bondmate, T'Amanda."

The mother raised her hand, also forming the ta'al. "Welcome to our house" said a smooth voice.

"I come to serve," was the older Vulcan's reply.

"Your service honors us."

The healer looked upon her for a second. He had never seen from up close the alien wife of S'chn T'gai Sarek, son of T'Pau, matriarch of the noblest of all Vulcan clans. They were the clan of Surak, the greatest of all who ever lived on Vulcan, father of the modern Vulcan civilization. The S'chn T'gai family, Surak's own bloodline, was everything the word Vulcan embodied. But, like every other person on the planet, he had heard of her.

Her husband's choice to take her as bondmate while he served as an ambassador on her native planet was a subject that even now, nine standard years later, was a topic of conversation among his people. Her voice was smooth and calm. Her hair was pulled back in an elaborate bun, a style common among Vulcan females. Only her face and brown eyes betrayed her alien origin.

It is fortunate that she bares no emotional expressions, typical of her weak species, he thought. His gaze traveled from her to the boy standing by her side. "Come closer Spock, son of Sarek."

The seven-year-old child gingerly approached the elder healer who observed him. Indeed the rumors are true, he thought to himself. Apart from the alien brown eyes, the boy bore no other resemblance to his mother. He could almost pass for a full-blooded Vulcan. Almost. But not entirely.

The healer began to speak the necessary words. Words he had repeated numerous times… "You are about to undertake an ancient ritual that has existed since before the Time of Awakening.

"The kahs'wan ordeal is an ancient rite from our warrior days. Our people are now committed to the concept of total logic. Yet we have come to realise that complete dedication to logic could allow weakness and frailty to arise and endanger us.

"Therefore when our race turned to logic, we decided that the tests of courage and strength must be maintained - to keep pure logic from making us weak and helpless.

"Tomorrow you will depart for the Sas-a-shar desert, the same place where Surak himself began his pilgrimage thousands of years ago. The desert is a harsh and dangerous place. There you must walk alone and survive for ten days without food, water or weapons of any kind. You will take nothing with you. No one is allowed to come by your side. Nobody will assist you. There will be no one to comfort you. Are you taking this journey willingly, Spock?"

"Yes, healer," came a young voice's reply.

"So be it." The healer placed his right hand on the child's temple and closed his eyes for a few seconds. Then he opened his eyes and removed his hand. "I can testify that you are in good health." He looked at the boy's parents. "You are aware that no communication whatsoever is allowed between you and your son?"

"We are aware," answered the father.

"Very well then." The healer once again placed his hand on the child's temple. This time he did not close his eyes. Instead he looked at the boy's face as if searching for something… His eyes became unfocused.

Yes… There. It is done.

A gasp was heard inside the silent room. The hands of the Terran woman begun to shake lightly but she quickly regained her composure.

"It is done," said the aged healer. He turned to face Sarek. "Now I shall take my leave."

Both parents remained silent and Sarek moved to escort him, but the elder stopped and turned once again toward the boy.

"This personal ordeal upon which you embark tomorrow will test both your mind and your body. It will determine the course your life will take. Yet it is no disgrace to fail once."

"Yes, healer."

"Spock, the Sas-a-shar desert is also known as the Forge. And it is called this for a reason. It will test you, enlighten you or destroy you." An old hand rose to form the ta'al. "Have a safe journey Spock, son of Sarek."

With these words the aged healer turned and left. And a deafening silence fell inside the great hall.

Ta'al: the Vulcan salute

A/Ν: Any questions this chapter arises will be answered in the next chapter. Your thoughts, comments and ideas are most welcomed.