*Disclaimer: I do not own Star Trek or Smallville. I do, however, own T'Prein. The Vulcan culture and language contained are from the official Starfleet Vulcan handbook online. Hope you enjoy it! R&R, please!*
T'Prein stepped into the small shuttlecraft. Methodically, she began checking status, data, and all controls.
"All systems are fully equipped. Ready to depart." She reported into the tiny comm unit in her ear.
"Understood, Ang'jmizn. Launch at will. Dif-tor heh smusma." Crackled the voice over the comm.
"Live long and prosper," she repeated, in her newly acquired English. She switched on the thrusters and prepared herself for take-off. Within minutes, she was rising through the thin air at an enormous velocity. She did not take her eyes off of the controls as she rocketed through the Vulcan atmosphere; she couldn't risk the slightest mistake. It would mean her life.
Red sand and rock, along with similarly colored adobe buildings, seemed to shrink as she plunged towards space. She adjusted the gravity control to a more comfortable level, so as to keep herself from being pushed into the cushioned seat. However, she still felt the abrupt jerk signaling her that the craft had broken free of the planet's atmosphere.
Farewell, T'Khasi, my kelek panu. She thought silently, the thought of leaving her home-world unpleasant, though no emotion betrayed itself on her face.
"I have left the atmosphere. Now commencing the navigational activation sequence. Proceeding to destination." T'Prein said coolly.
"Very well. Best of endeavors on your mission, Ang'jmizn T'Prein." Came the voice over the comm.
"My gratitude," she replied. Her fingers flying deftly over the touch-panel in front of her, she engaged warp speed, then activated automated controls. She looked one last time at the reddish-brown planet and watched it grow smaller until warp kicked in and the only thing on the view screen in front of her was a blur of stars. Now she was utterly alone. Not a single other soul shared the small space. Her comm unit could provide communication with others on Vulcan, but it took time for messages to travel to and fro the now-distant planet. She switched off the comm and removed it from her pointed ear. Carefully, she placed it in its proper container, then rolled out an exquisitely decorated rug and sat down, cross-legged on the floor. She steepled her fingers into strange V-shapes, with her thumbs out, and her hands together. She closed her eyes and began breathing deeply. The quiet of space was perfect for her meditation.
Hot, desert wind blew across T'Prein's face as she looked out over Mt. Seleyah. Her pet Sehlat from childhood sat obediently at her side. She looked at the picnic spread before her as she waited for Selik. She reached out for one of the juicy fruits--
A slight beeping noise interrupted her kohl-tor. She opened her eyes and gracefully rose to her feet in one fluid motion. Briskly, but gracefully, she strode to the control panel. An unknown meteor was on a collision course with her small craft. She adjusted her course, inwardly frowning that such a small move would add 1.43 days to her 16.4-day journey in this cramped vessel. A small price to pay, however, considering that Earth was 16.4 light-years away from Vulcan. T'Prein glanced at the chronmeter and saw that it was time for the evening meal. She scanned the space surrounding the small shuttle, then went to prepare her meal of sash and savas.