I do not own Star Trek, nor any of the canon characters.

In Memorium

Spock carried his ka'athyra as he walked beside Nyota, who pushed little Azizi in his stroller. It had been a year and a half since he'd first seen the memorial, four years since the Genocide.

In fact, it had been four standard years to the day since the destruction of his home world and the loss of most of his father's race. On that day, Spock had also lost his mother and thousands of fellow Starfleet personnel. Spock had no words to define the scope of what he had lost. He only knew that it had changed him forever.

He and Nyota had found the two memorials by accident. Spock had taken Nyota to show her the little house he had inherited from his mother, the home they would share when stationed in San Francisco. It was near to Temple Beth Israel, where Spock had often attended services with his mother. When they went walking in the neighborhood, Spock decided to show Nyota the memorial rose garden that he and Amanda had sometimes tended as a mitzvah or good deed. Amanda had even placed a bronze plaque there in memory of her parents, who died in a shuttle accident when Spock was ten.

Spock found the plaque easily and showed it to Nyota. He was not prepared for what else was there.


A large black, marble slab bore the inscription "Dedicated To The Memory Of The Children Of Israel Who Were Slain In The Battle Of Vulcan." There were three hundred and seventy-eight names on the memorial, many of whom had been Spock's students. Nyota had tutored some of these.

They stood in silence and remembered them.

Nyota began to cry softly, and Spock pulled her close. They sat down on a bench in the garden, where the black slab could not be seen. They held each other for several minutes and then Spock looked up, his attention captured by a collection of miniature rose bushes, surrounding an inscribed stone. He stood and read the words.

"Dedicated To The Memory Of Amanda Grayson, Beloved Wife of S'chn T'gai Sarek, Mother of Spock, Teacher And Philanthropist."

Spock sat back down on the bench and buried his face in Nyota's shoulder. She held him until the tears stopped. Neither heard a third person enter the garden.

"Hello, Spock. I wondered when you would come."

"Rabbi Goldie. My mother's memorial, where did it come from?"

"Your father designed it himself. He comes here on occasion, the last time just a few weeks ago. He sits where you are sitting and meditates."


A year and a half had passed since that moment in the memorial garden. Spock had undergone treatment for Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome. He was still taking a mild anti-depressant. However, he was also coping with his loss. On this day, he felt ready to face the memorial garden again.

He sat on the bench in front of the marble wall memorial and removed his ka'athyra from its case. Nyota sat next to him. After checking his instrument for proper tuning, Spock began to play the the old tune, alternatively known as "Eternal Father" or the "Armed Forces Hymn". He played it through once before Nyota joined him in singing the verse.

Almighty ruler of the all,

Whose power extends to great and small,

Who guides the stars with steadfast law,

Whose least creation fills with awe-

Oh grant Thy Mercy and Thy grace,

To those who venture into space.

(-Robert A. Heinlein (1947) as part of his short story "Ordeal in Space")

Their song and the memorials were a testament to the lives and sacrifices of many, a promise that they would never be forgotten. Memorials were, after all, reminders to the living. The dead had no need of them.

A/N:

This story is a gift for my husband Tony, a 20 year Navy veteran and a survivor of the USS Cole bombing. Tony honors the sacrifices of his shipmates through his volunteer work with Bugles Across America. For more information, visit .org