Chapter Two – New Orders
Ambassador Sarek bit his lower lip and tried to shield his mind from the pain that was washing over him as he gently propped himself up on the biobed.
Amanda was saddened to see the display of emotion on his face that he so desperately tried to hide from her. She'd long ago learned not to try and help him. He was stubborn and near impossible to argue with when he wanted to. He was a fine diplomat, a man of reason and logic, shaped by the old traditions on Vulcan. It had surprised both her and the highest court of Vulcan when he'd chosen her to be his mate.
Although Vulcans have repressed their emotions for centuries some of them seemed to resurface amongst the higher ranks when they learned about his choosing. For generations, children of Vulcan usually had no say about their future. They married into arranged relationships that were most convenient for the bloodline. They had one or two children during their lifetime and tutored them the traditional customs of their people. Every child was expected to fill a purpose that was predefined by logic and wisdom displayed during the trials.
Amanda sighed wearily, she'd been heartbroken when she thought she would lose her husband. She loved him with all her heart – the human way. And Sarek had let her do that, he had let her display her affection and love for him. He'd admonished her at times and told her of Vulcan tradition and deeds but in the end he'd come to respect and love her for her humanity. She'd worked hard to be approved in the uptight Vulcan community and forced herself to study the various ancient texts and teachings in order to get a deeper understanding of the Vulcan race. That way she'd finally been respected by the community. However, everything about their relationship was new both to her and Sarek and to everyone around them. When they had announced that they were awaiting a child certain tensions had arose, troubled voices had been raised but in the end the Vulcan's considered themselves to be an enlightened people without prejudices. Spock had been welcomed to the world as a Vulcan and he'd been eager to fit into the world surrounding him. In fact, he'd strived very hard to bury his human side within him.
Amanda had been saddened and disappointed to learn about it but bowed to his wishes as all she wanted was for him to be happy. She'd watched him play alone at nights, she'd watched him cry when he thought no one saw him and hug his teddy bear tight. She'd watched his struggle to become a real Vulcan, one who showed no outward emotions. A little by little the human side was suppressed.
To her and Sarek's surprise he'd at the age of eighteen decided not to fulfill his obligations to the Vulcan School of Science and instead chosen to join the human military and science organization – Starfleet Academy.
Sarek had, for a man that was to show no emotion, clearly been disturbed by the idea and the disapproval in his eyes couldn't be denied. It had resulted in an argument that might not have looked much for the world of human standards but the result had been complete silence between father and son for almost two decades.
Amanda had followed his work and career discreetly and her pride knew no limit. She couldn't imagine how it must have felt for him to go from a highly schooled society into the world of human chaos. Young humans where certainly not rational and they liked to party, liked to be social and sometimes even childish. They usually displayed a wide range of emotions such as love, affection and jealousy. All those where examples of things that Spock had never had any first-hand experience with unless you counted the few times he'd actually visited his cousins on earth. But then again her lovable child, that she cared deeply for, didn't really belong anywhere. Except perhaps onboard the Enterprise – the Flagship of Starfleet.
"You seem happy although your mind is far away," Sarek said simply.
Amanda caught herself with a smile on her lips, caught up in the works of their son.
"I was thinking about Spock," she said as she reached forward to gently tuck the bedlinen closer to his body.
Sarek said nothing for a moment, he turned to study her. He was still intrigued that his wife could show so many conflicted emotions at the same time and yet school her expression into nothingness.
"Have you talked to him?" he enquired with a raised eyebrow.
"Did you assume I would?" she asked.
"I assume nothing, my dear, I never do," he said calmly, his tone flat.
Amanda harrumphed. "No, Sarek, you calculate the odds and then decide for or against the possibility of me talking to him," she replied.
"You wish to speak to him," he said.
"Of course I do, he's our son," she returned somewhat frustrated. "But I am afraid he might not want to speak to me."
He raised a curious eyebrow at her statement. "I take it that you spoke to him about my heart disease and that he refused to help out after Captain Kirk got injured," he said.
Amanda looked up at him in surprise.
"It was a logical choice. I would have done the same," he added.
"Logical?" she questioned in disbelief. "You are his father!"
"The needs of the few are outweighed by the needs of the many. Have you considered what would have happened if he had refused to do his duties and him helping me would have resulted in a catastrophe?"
She opened her mouth to speak but he cut her short.
"It may have been unwise for the Federation to choose the Enterprise to ferry all of the delegates in the first place. The Vulcan Council made their reservations about the travel arrangements but most of the others voted in favor. Considering the events unfolding before Spock I don't see that there was another option available for him," Sarek finished.
"But James-" Amanda began.
"Captain Kirk acted brashly, quite possibly on a whim. He was not well enough to be presented with the burden of command on his shoulders at that time," Sarek stated.
"Captain Kirk, saved the day by luring the other vessel into a trap and Doctor McCoy discovered the true identity of the imposter after the implications from Spock," she argued.
"Kirk is a tactical genius but he played with high stakes. A risk not in favor of calculation," Sarek reasoned. "He might as well have killed everyone onboard."
Amanda's eyes suddenly twinkled. "You're angry because he pulled it off. Because he so boldly ignored his own pain and aches and achieved his goals with success despite his recklessness," she said in triumph.
"I do not display emotions as you well know, therefore I am not angry. I am merely detesting the irrational way the goal was achieved in," he returned logically.
"So you'd rather had Spock ignoring your needs and save the day on the bridge while you died? I believe Admiral Cartwright said the odds where in favor of the Federation when it came to Coridan and that you played a big part of that. So logically, if you'd died the outcome would have lessened our chances," she reasoned.
He opened his mouth to speak but she interrupted him.
"Sleep now my husband," she said with a cautious smile and left him alone to recuperate.
OOOOOO
James T Kirk wasn't happy about light duty but it was a compromise, it sure beat lying flat on your back down in sickbay. Though he wasn't yet cleared for bridge duty, he still managed to coordinate everything with the ambassadors from his quarters. In only three hours he'd effectively broken up a new quarrel between an Andorian and a Tellarite via the communications panel and written a report to SFC about the incident with the murdered ambassador. He was just about to send it as the door swished open to reveal the good doctor.
"Something I can do for you, Bones?" he asked carefully from behind his desk.
The doctor sighed as he sat down heavily opposite him. "I don't know. I was prepared to read you the riot for not following my orders but then I decided to cut you a little slack, swing by and have a serious talk instead."
Kirk narrowed his eyes. "How do you know if I'm following your orders or not?" he asked suspiciously.
"Oh," Bones said innocently with a shrug of his shoulders. "You know I have eyes and ears all around the ship."
The captain smirked and nodded as he returned to the previous topic. "I'm busy, Bones," Kirk cautioned albeit his voice was light.
McCoy shrugged. "That's fine, I can fire off a monologue."
To his joy Kirk was literally saved by the bell as the sound of an incoming message sounded over the private channel.
"Captain, I'm sorry to disturb you but we've received an incoming priority one message from Starfleet Command," Lt. Uhura apologized. "Admiral Carter refuses to relay his message to anyone else but you, sir."
Kirk nodded at his communications officer via the view link. "Very well, reroute the call to my cabin," he said.
The view quickly shifted from Uhura on the bridge of the Enterprise to the Admiral sitting behind his desk at HQ.
"Captain Kirk," Carter acknowledged sternly.
"Admiral," Jim returned politely yet somewhat reserved.
"Due to recent events on the Enterprise, judging from the brief report sent by your first officer, which I trust will be tagged by your own report shortly-" he paused to scrutinize the captain.
Kirk nodded, unconsciously chewing lightly on his bottom lip. "I can have it sent to you immediately."
"Good," was Carter's rapid answer. "In terms of those events I want you to remain at Babel-"
"Admiral, with all due respect," Kirk interrupted. "That was not part of the agreement. As I understand it the USS Pegasus will patrol the area while the conference is taking place."
"I wasn't finished, Kirk," the Admiral said in a tone that held no room for argument. "I want you down there to oversee the negotiations. We could use an extra set of eyes."
"Admiral, the Enterprise is supposed to be on a five-year mission to explore new regions of space. This was only a detour and no doubt to show off," Kirk dared, not one to hold back on his views.
"There is a fine line between giving your point of view and insubordination, Captain Kirk," the Admiral cautioned.
The young starship captain plastered a smile on his pale face and bit back his retort, knowing when the argument was over and when he had lost. "Very well, Admiral, the Enterprise will remain at Babel after arrival."
Carter returned the smile, his even more political and diplomatic than Kirk's. "Good, the Federation top diplomats will be arriving tomorrow afternoon with the Pegasus, everything according to plan."
Kirk frowned.
"I've had reports coming in from the Vulcan ship Seleya, which is currently running along the neutral zone that everything seems to be quiet at the Klingon end. Also, the Tellarite ship, Ta'ra'to reports that it is quiet alongside the Romulan territory. At least something seems to go right," the Admiral said sourly.
Kirk nodded seriously. "What are our orders on arrival, sir," he said respectfully.
"You're to report to the stationed chancellor at Babel, the safe arrival of all those precious delegates onboard the Enterprise is your responsibility till the moment they enter the conference room."
"Fantastic," Kirk thought sarcastically while he displayed a pleasant half-quirk on his lips.
"Captain Rodgers will stay, as planned, in orbit. You'll coordinate with him. However, as the captain of the flagship you have the final word. The Pegasus is simply at your disposal if you need it," Carter said and his tone softened. "I'm sorry, Jim, but everyone is a little shaken up by recent events and there is much at stake. It feels safer if the Enterprise stays and even though we might have had our disagreements I do trust your judgement."
"Thank you, sir," Kirk said politely before he broke into a thin genuine smile. "It's been quite a ride so far."
"I understand that, son. We have you to thank when it comes to Ambassador Sarek's wellbeing. I do however, regret that it was on your own expense," the Admiral said seriously.
Kirk nodded, licking his dry lips thoughtfully, the last deep breath he'd taken had sent a chill down his chest. "I believe that would be Doctor McCoy's doing. Anyway, our arrival is set to eight hundred hours tomorrow morning, we are currently cruising above normal warp speed for long distance travel."
"Good thinking," he amended. "Carter out."
Leonard McCoy leaned forward in the chair opposite his captain with a look of annoyance, even a hint of anger, displayed on his face. "Have you all gone out of your mind?" he questioned fiercely. "Jim, you're not fit to roam the planet in- what- ten hours? You're exhausted, you're far from recovered and to be frank you belong in bed."
Kirk chuckled, caught himself at the stabbing feeling in his side, and quickly sobered up. "You're a mother hen, Bones, you worry too much," he said simply.
"And you are accident prone, stubborn beyond comprehension, don't-know-what's-good-for-you and on top of all that you like to play with fire. My goodness, Jim, you give me gray hairs", McCoy complained.
"Relax, Bones, I'm just going to sit at a table, check the perimeter and coordinate a few things. It's hardly taxing and if it satisfies you I can rest a few hours in between every now and then," he suggested.
McCoy stabbed a finger at his chest from across the desk. "I'll hold you to that", he said seriously.
OOOOOO
To be continued