Chapter Two

"Now then, don't you dare go down there, and hook up with some pretty young thing with pointed ears."

"Hook up?" Spock repeated confused.

"Never mind." Uhura chuckled. "Just come back as soon as you can."

"This should not take long."

"Good." Uhura pushed herself up on her tip-toes and kissed Spock's cheek. "I know it's silly, but I'm always nervous when you're on Natala."

"Vulcans do not harm one another, even when we had lives to 'spare'."

"I know, still...be careful."

"Always."

Uhura smiled, knowing that Spock was being completely serious where others would have been sarcastic. His eyes tracked back and forth the way they always did before he displayed any kind of affection towards her. Even within the safety of their quarters he had to ensure that no one was watching. Assured of their privacy he kissed her gently.

"You know if you want to marry me, you're going to have to kiss me in front of an audience at the end."

"I accept that."

"Get out of here." Uhura teased. "Go remind Vulcan that you're still the best of them."

"That is not my intention."

"Go." Uhura shook her head sadly.

Spock graced Uhura with a shallow bow and left. He made his way purposefully towards the transport room, skillfully avoiding any hallways that may contain Kirk or McCoy. When he arrived Scotty was flirting with one of the new Ensigns. Ignoring the display Spock went to stand on the transporter pad. Scotty looked up at him and smiled brightly.

"Mr. Spock, there is some red on yer lips that I highly doubt is blood." Scotty snickered.

Reaching up Spock removed Uhura's lipstick from his lips, taking a moment to glare at the stain that was on his hand now. When he turned his icy stare on Scotty the engineer instantly removed the smirk from his face.

"Energize, Mr. Scott."

"Aye, Sir."

Spock's vision jumped from the interior of the ship to the bright world of Natala. The sun here produced a slightly bluer light than the sun of Vulcan, but it was the same hot desert air. Spock took a deep breath of the heated atmosphere, enjoying the more comfortable temperature. He was always slightly chilled aboard the Enterprise, something he only really noticed when he returned to a warm world.

Scotty had landed him just outside the main city to prevent accidentally beaming directly in front of, or even worse into, anyone. Turning around Spock made his way towards the massive stone and glass buildings. The Vulcan's had wasted no time in recreating their architecture and lifestyle even though Spock felt that their energies could have been better spent.

Walking through the nearly empty streets was just another painful reminder of how few Vulcans were left. Had they built a city that more appropriately fit their population the contrast would not be so stark. However, the full sized city was currently being occupied by a mere handful.

"For an emotionless species we fall victim to pride so easily." Spock muttered to himself.

At the heart of the city the population grew slightly denser. Dressed in his bright blue uniform Spock was an unavoidable eye sore in the darkly dressed society. Completely accustom to the looks he was receiving Spock simply continued on his path towards the capital building. Once inside he was surprised to see the large floating stone statues that dominated the front entrance way. They were perfect replicas of the art that had been destroyed on Vulcan. The High Council's priorities did not seem logical to him, but he did not waste much thought on it. He stepped up to the man seated behind the high entrance desk.

"I have arrived for the census."

"You will meet with High Councilor Ry'in." The receptionist informed.

"High Councilor? Are they meeting individually with every Vulcan?"

"I do not have the authority to answer that question."

"Very well."

"Spock," an older Vulcan called "come with me, I am Councilor Ry'in."

Spock turned to his left and saw Ry'in standing under a near by archway. Once Ry'in was sure he had been acknowledged he turned and walked off down the hall. Without hesitation Spock followed him. They weaved their way through the building before coming to a doorway which the Councilor disappeared into.

The door closed automatically behind Spock as he stepped into the small room. Ry'in had already taken his place behind a black stone desk. The surface of the desk glittered blue with a computer interface that Ry'in was entering data into. Spock stood and waited for instruction. Eventually Ry'in looked up.

"Have a seat, Spock."

"Thank you, Councilor"

"Please place your left hand on the illuminated pad."

As Ry'in spoke a bright blue outline of a hand on the surface of the desk. Spock reached out and pressed his palm against the outline. A bright scanner light tracked back and forth under his hand and then turned crimson. On Ry'in's side of the desk the computer jumped to life.

"The computer does not understand your human blood. No matter, I can over ride it." Ry'in announced. "There will be a brief flash of pain, afterward you may remove your hand."

Spock remained impassive as a sharp pain radiated from the center of his palm. When he pulled his hand away there was a small pool of green blood left on the desk. The blood quickly soaked into the scanner and disappeared. Ry'in continued to tap on the flat desktop while Spock waited.

"I see here that you are bonded with T'pring." Ry'in announced.

"T'pring survived?"

"Indeed. Her family was among the first evacuated. I am surprised you did not sense it."

"I did not try."

"Never the less, she lives. Since you are already connected with her she will be one of the three assigned to you, they are all in the city so you can go to them directly after our meeting here to work out the details."

"I am sorry, Councilor, I must not have heard you correctly."

"You are to be mated with T'pring, Lastana, and Yain. The first was chosen by your parents, the other two hold genetics compatible to your own."

"So this is the true purpose of the census." Spock noted rather than asked.

"There is a terrible imbalance in the Vulcan population, females out number males three to one."

"And this is the Council's solution?"

"It is the only solution." Ry'in replied seriously. "We need every drop of Vulcan blood left in the galaxy, we can not afford to have females spend their lives barren due to a lack of mates. By using assignment we can ensure that no inbreeding occurs for the next seven generations. After that our numbers will be large enough to return to our traditions."

"To borrow a phrase from a friend of mine: 'are you out of your Vulcan mind?'."

"Watch your tongue, Spock."

"My apologies," Spock gave the Councilor a shallow bow "however, you must understand I can not agree to this. No Vulcan could."

"That is where you are wrong, we have one hundred percent cooperation."

"I must tarnish your record."

"You are not being logical."

"I am being loyal." Spock retorted.

"To whom?"

"I have a mate."

"Human?" Ry'in asked with veiled disgust.

"Yes."

"Why were we not informed of this?"

"Because it is not your affair."

"Every Vulcan is our affair." Ry'in said icily.

"Then you are now informed." Spock got to his feet. "If we are done here, I will return to the Enterprise."

"Spock...if you leave now you are never welcome to return."

"I understand. I do not believe I was ever truly welcome to begin with."

"I warned your father that this would happen." Ry'in hissed.

"That what would happen?"

"That if you were allowed to live among the humans that you would become one."

"I suppose I am already half way there."

"Wrong." Ry'in shook his head. "Vulcans are triploid, humans are only diploid. You are three-fourths your father, only one-quarter your mother. That is the only way your conception would even have been possible. Any child of yours by a Vulcan mother will carry so little human blood as to be essentially pure."

"Any child of mine will be more human than I."

"Spock, you have a responsibility to your species."

"Perhaps the species needs to take a page from my father's book, if genetic diversity is what we need open the Natala settlement to a finite number of human males and let nature take her course. I will not be reduced to an animal for breeding."

"Get out."

Spock nodded slightly before turning and leaving. As he returned to the main entrance a motion caught the corner of his eye. Spock paused as a beautiful young Vulcan woman stepped out of the shadows. She put herself into his path and glared at him.

"Spock."

"T'pring?"

"Yes." T'pring replied icily. "Spock, since our current laws no longer allow Kal-if-fee I no longer have the power to refuse you as my life mate. Therefore I am reduced to begging. I accept you as the father of my future children, however, I ask that you take one of your other assigned females as your true partner."

"I shall do neither for you. Consider yourself free."

"Free? You are rejecting me?"

"It seems the feeling is mutual."

Spock took a step to the side so that he could walk past T'pring. She watched him leave with an impassive expression painted on her sharp features. Wanting nothing more than to return to the Enterprise Spock walked quickly back towards the isolated spot on the outside edge of the city that he had beamed down to. Once there he pulled out his communicator.

"Enterprise? Spock here."

"Scott here."

"Ready to beam aboa..."

"Spock!" A female voice rang out.

"Belay that order, Mr. Scott."

"Aye, Sir."

Turning around Spock found another Vulcan woman approximately T'pring's age approaching him quickly. He waited for her to catch up over the dry rocky terrain without moving to meet her halfway. When she arrived she bowed her head respectfully and kept her gaze on the floor. Before speaking again she glanced around to ensure that they were alone.

"Spock, I require your help...please, I don't know anyone else to turn to."

"How may I assist you?"

"My brother, he has not returned for the census. He was on a Star Fleet Base, 17."

"Starbase 17? The base closest to the Vulcan black hole?"

"Yes."

"What was his business there?"

"I do not know. All I know is that he was due back six days ago, but there has been no word from him. The High Council will not allow me try to contact him, I can not afford to leave myself to search, and I do not know anyone in Star Fleet to ask...other than you."

"What is his name?"

"Darick."

"And yours?"

"Tia."

"I will look into the matter."

"Thank you."

Tia bowed once again and backed away. Once she had retreated a good distance away Spock contacted the ship once again and returned. He stalked away from the transport room and towards his own quarters. He knew Uhura would be angry at him for not letting her know he was back, but he had more important problems. Sitting down at his desk he activated the computer.

"Computer, access Federation census of Vulcan species conducted after the destruction of the homeworld."

"Accessed." The computer chimed. "Total count 12,307."

"Was the ratio of males to females also counted, if so what was it?"

"Approximately two females to every male."

"I don't want an approximation, what is the exact ratio to the sixth significant digit?"

"1.635287 females to every male."

"Fascinating."

Spock turned off the computer and thought about the ramifications of the Federation census. He came to three logical conclusions. The first was simply that the Federations hurried census was incorrect. The other was that the High Councilor had lied to him, or had false information himself.

"...or Vulcan males are dying at an alarming rate."

**************