Author's note: I don't own anything except the original characters. I forgot to say that in the first note. Also, the Asian temple and masters are meant to be an amalgam of several Asian religions, and do not indicate any one specific.
Cleo stepped of the shuttle in Tokoyo and immediately heard behind her a male, "Konichiwa Gaijin."
She turned pulling her quarter staff from under her coat. "Hello foreign asshole?" she laughed, "Akihiro, ten years and nothing has changed."
A well-dressed Japanese man stepped from the shadows with his arms open. Cleo embraced him, "How are you my brother." She whispered softly into his neck.
"Father is dying, you knew that or you wouldn't be here."
Cleo pulled back, "I didn't know."
Akihiro frowned, "When I received your message that you had resigned your commission and were returning home, I assumed you knew."
Cleo turned away, "I didn't. The war had just ended, and it was my time to return to the temple. My time of reckoning had passed, I came home to…try to gain the favor and become a monk."
Akihiro put his arm around his sister, "There will be time enough to talk on the road to the temple. Come, I have arranged a hotel room so you can bathe and we both can change into our robes."
O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O
Cleo approached her horse gently. She felt good being in her saffron robes, her red meditation beads once again dangling from her wrist. He put her forehead between the horses' eyes and breathed deep. Her adopted brother Akihiro guided his horse up behind her, "It's been a long time since we made this trip my Imoutosan." Cleo turned, "It has been too long since I heard you call me that, your little sister indeed, we are the same age."
Akihiro grinned and smoothed out the saffron robes he was also wearing. "It feels weird to be in this again. I was getting used to my suit."
Cleo pulled at the binding holding her blond hair in the tight Federation regulation pony tail and let it cascade over her shoulders, "And it feels good to let loose a bit. Regulations weren't as strict as the laws of the temple, but..." she shrugged her shoulders, "At least I won't have a constant headache anymore."
The pair walked their horses to the first gate, Akihiro handed Cleo the reigns and continued to the bell tower. He jumped up and swiftly scaled the bamboo to the top. "Are you ready to begin, Imoutosan?"
Cleo bowed.
He took the hammer and struck the ancient bell six times, and then shimmied down to rejoin his sister. "The bell has rung, let us begin."
They mounted their horses and began the perilous ride up the mountain to the temple they had called their home. Akihiro looked over at his sister, "I heard, you were injured."
Cleo nodded, "Ja." She said in her native German, "On a planet in a very unstable part of space, protecting some ambassadors during a secret negotiation."
"Any scars?"
She grinned, "No, I was under the care of Vulcan doctors, not Klingons, they see no logical need for such things."
Akihiro snorted, "No scars, no injury. I on the other hand have a devastating scar from a PADD cut." He held his hand out to show her a faint white line that traced from the top of his finger down to the first knuckle. "The PADD broke, there was a lot of blood."
"Ha. Ha. Akihiro. Still the joker I see."
"Hey, Cleo, I could have died." He added lightly, "Do you want talk…"
"No, Akihiro, I don't need to talk about it. It was war, I had a duty. " Her voice was calm, and as her brother looked into her eyes he saw a certain peace about her situation, "I am grateful to our masters, without my training, I would have died that day. "
"While we are on some light hearted topics, let's talk about father." It was a ham-handed segue, Akihiro knew, but it was the best he could come up with. Cleo settled further into her saddle, and he continued, "He is naming his successor tomorrow, Imoutosan."
Cleo's mind travelled back in time. She was only ten when her parents died on an archeological dig and she was left with Akihiro's father, Master Sato. Sato was the master of the last of the Bodhisattva temples on Earth, the last place where a person could go to learn the ancient ways of the Asian lands.
"Imoutosan," Akihiro said louder, "Where is your mind?"
"I was thinking my brother, of when I met father the first time." She gave a mirthless grin to her brother, and did an imitation of their father as she spoke, "Pain, Cleo-san, is temporary, all things are temporary…"she trailed off and Akihiro finished, "All things are illusion, even the path of enlightenment, but it is a path you must take if you are to understand this."
The pair laughed together, and dismounted their horses as the path was now too narrow they had to go on foot. Removing their sandals, they stood at the beginning of their new trail. Both dropped to their knees and bowed chanting the ancient dialect asking that their minds be pure, and focused on their journey. When the prayer was over Cleo stood and rang the second bell six times, announcing to all that they were on their way.
"What is he dying of, is there nothing the doctors can do?" Cleo asked before they crossed the bridge.
"He won't see them, Cleo, he says a master knows when to pass the light to another. He believes it is his time."
The pair fell silent and began fingering their prayer beads, each silently focusing on their journey and their meditations.
O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O
The old Vulcan approached the master of the temple, who was half seated and half reclined on his bed. His robes were purple and in stark contrast to the earth tones that surrounded him. The two old men stared at each other for a long time in silence until Master Sato spoke, "You have come on a long journey, Ambassador Sovar. I would stand to greet you but I am engaged in dying and have lost the use of my legs." He waved one of the acolytes near him and spoke to the boy in Japanese to bring them some green tea.
The Vulcan raised an eyebrow, " I did not know such places existed on earth Master Sato. My guide informs me that the children kneeling on the steps are supplicants wishing to be taught here, that they must stay there for thirty days and nights before being allowed in. Is this true?"
Sato nodded, "Yes, the paths we offer here offer great power, Ambassador, and before they are taught they must have the dedication. I am given to understand you have witnessed first-hand the power of one of my greatest students, my daughter. Please, Ambassador, sit and we will speak." The old master pushed himself up from his position; two acolytes picked him up and brought him down to the pillows at the table they were setting for tea.
The ambassador kneeled on the pillows set before him and waited with his hands in his sleeves watching the young men serve them. "Your daughter saved my life. Her planning and detail was most efficient, she was skilled."
Sato permitted himself a smile, "She was a good student, one of my best, dedicated to the path of enlightenment. Her masters were always pleased."
"I understand she has resigned her commission. I want to engage her services." Sovar said and eyed the tea before sipping it. He was not usually a fan of human beverages, and was surprised to find the tea suitable to drink.
Sato heard the six chimes of the second bell, and he relaxed in his pillows, "Why then have you come to me? Cleo is a woman with her own mind. You should approach her yourself, she will be here soon."
"I wanted to see how she came to be who she is. Your temple explains it, there are such temples all over Vulcan, dedicated to teaching our young the path of logic. It is fascinating to see such a thing on a planet filled with people given over to their emotions."
The old man steepled his fingers under his chin and stared at the old Vulcan before him. "Do you know the ancient word, Namaste?"
Sovar frowned lightly, trying to bring it to mind, "I am not, Master Sato."
"Namaste, is an ancient greeting, it means the divine in me bows humbly to the divine in you, we are one. It is a greeting fitting to be used in all races, for we all have the spark of life within us. We all are the embodiment of the limitless universe. Ambassador Sovar, we are all one, though you in your visit here have shown distaste for your human brothers and sisters. Yet you traveled the light in hopes of retaining one of them. There isn't consistency in your logic."
Before Sovar could answer the old human an older acolyte entered and approached them. He dropped to his knees before Sato kissing the hem of his robes, "Master, they have arrived."
Four young men entered the masters' chambers and helped Sato onto the litter lifting him up. Sato looked at Sovar, "Come Ambassador, and help me welcome my children home."
Cleo and Ahkihiro walked through the temple gates and the bells rang for them. They saw the litter carrying their father come through the jade double doors and both went to their knees, bowing their heads to the dirt. When the litter was lowered they both took a hem of their father's garment and kissed it, ritually asking to be allowed entrance in this their father's home.
Master Sato bid them rise, and embraced them both, "My children, I did not think you would make it back before I left this world."
Hearing the only man she ever knew as father speak like that Cleo fought the stinging of tears in the back of her eyes, "Father, " she could say no more, fearing she would cry. Sato pulled away and took his children's faces in his hands, "I am a blessed man to have such children. " He turned back to Sovar, "Wouldn't you say?"
Sovar eyed the woman, she looked different than he remembered, but he knew it was her from the glint in her green eyes. He stepped forward, "I would say your children do your name honor, Master Sato."
Cleo nervously looked at her father, and back at the ambassador, she pressed her palms together, and bowed respectfully, "Ambassador Sovar, you have come a long way from Vulcan." She didn't know what else to say, and felt stupid for stating the obvious.
Sato laughed lightly, "Come my children, we will dine together with the Ambassador, and you will tell me the stories of your life outside the temple. " He leaned up and in a booming voice spoke to the rest of the people, "Tonight is a night of rest, two masters have returned after years of their ordeal, in their honor we dine."
The bells rang again, there was celebration around her, but Cleo was staring at Sovar. She was reminded of another thing her father taught her growing up, "No matter how far you run, your past is always only a fingers length away." She did not know until now, how literal that could be.
O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O
The fare, Sovar noticed, was vegetarian and it suited his pallet very well. Master Soto was sat at the table first, and motioned for his daughter to sit at his right hand and Sovar to sit next to her. His son he placed as his left. Sovar wondered if there was some ritual significance to the arrangement since the whole of life seemed to be regimented in that fashion. Sovar waited until Sato was talking intently with his son, and touched Cleo lightly, "Why did you resign your commission?"
Cleo put her chopsticks on her plate, and turned to the Vulcan. "Excuse me Ambassador?" she wondered why he was here at all, and his question was she thought, a highly personal one.
"You received the Christopher Pike medal for bravery, twice during the war, why did you walk away from your career?" he watched to see what kind of emotional response she would give him, and to see if the logic of her choice was sound.
Cleo sipped her tea and considered his question, "Ambassador, I am a master at this temple. In order to gain this title, one leaves the temple for ten years to explore the universe, the world, and more importantly themselves. It is the goal of every master to leaves to return wiser, so that wisdom can be shared with their students. While with Star Fleet I was taught what I knew to benefit those who served under me, now I will do the same for the people of the temple, as a monk. "
Sovar was surprised at the calm the young woman showed when facing a question that most human would see as being too personal. He looked back at his plate, "Very well." He stated and began to eat again. There was no logic in asking her to work for him; she had a clear and logical path planned.
Cleo felt her father's hand on her arm, "I tire, my dear, would you please see me to my chambers?"
"Of course father." She stood and bowed to the Ambassador and began to ready the litter. Sato caught the Vulcan's eye, "Come to my chambers in the morning before you leave." Sovar nodded.
O_O_O_O_O_O_O_OO_O_O_OO
Cleo helped her father into his bed and covered him with his sheets. He was looking pale, and seemed to be sleeping already. She bent to kiss him and saw his eyes flutter open, "Cleo, my daughter, sit. We must speak. "
She did as he asked, taking his hand in hers, she held it over her heart. The old man smiled, "Your destiny is not here in this temple, Cleo, and I speak to you now as father and master. Your path lay in the stars, and in the light and wisdom that our ancestors could only dream of." Sato stopped, he could feel his daughter's body tense, "Tomorrow I name Ahkihiro as my successor, I will not name you as a monk, and I have spoken to Ahkihiro. When I am gone, he will honor my wishes."
Cleo folded her lips inward to keep them from trembling. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. This had always been her home, and the only goal she had since coming here was to follow in her father and brother's footsteps. Her head dropped and Sato felt her hot tears running down his hand. "My daughter, I love you, and the lessons you have to teach belong among the stars."
"I understand, Father, my master." She whispered.
"Now leave an old man to sleep, I will send for you in the morning."
Cleo stood slowly and fell on her knees kissing the hem of his garment. She wanted to beg, to scream and cry, but she knew there was no changing her father's mind. She rose again and padded out of the room.
"You do not understand now, my daughter, but you will…" Sato said closing his eyes and drifting into a peaceful sleep.
O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O_O
Sovar rose before the dawn, to his surprise the temple seemed to be a buzz already with students and masters teaching. It gave him the strange sensation that in this temple he was getting up in the middle of the day. He dressed and as he stepped out of his chamber door he was met by a young monk, "Please, come, the master asks for you." Sovar followed him until he paused at Sato's private chamber, "The master is dying." The young monk said plainly and opened the curtain indicating for him to enter.
The room was full of incense and monks were spread out chanting some kind of prayer Sovar did not recognize. The man he met the night before was leaning his forehead against his father's hand. The Vulcan looked at the old man, his skin was ashen and his breathing irregular. They were not mistaken, he was dying. Sovar spoke in a respectful tone, "Master Sato, you requested to see me."
Sato lifted his hand from his son's grasp, "My son, go to Master Mioko, and prepare yourself."
Ahkihiro stood and bowed, "As you wish, Father. May your journey be peaceful."
Sovar watched the young man; tears were streaming down his cheeks but his voice was calm. In his nearly two hundred years of life he could not recall being this close to humans in a time of loss, it was unsettling.
"Sovar," the dying master spoke softly, "Go to my daughter," he rasped, "Make your offer. I will not leave until I know she is with you." He swallowed hard, and took Sovar's hand, "Be good and honorable to her, and she will pluck the stars from the sky for you." He let go of the old Vulcan his body shuddered and his eyes closed. Sovar saw he was still breathing, it would be a matter of hours before he would die.
He did not say a word, but turned and left. The young monk who lead him to Sato's room was waiting for him. "She is in the temple." He said with a bow.
O_O_O_O_O_OO_O_O_OO_O_O
Cleo was mediating before a giant statue of the first Buddha. The acolytes had woke her early and let her know her father's health had turned in the night. She felt a still quiet presence enter the temple it was walking up behind her. It was not a human gate. She opened her eyes, stood, and turned. He seemed to have a quizzical look on his face, so she spoke. "Women are not allowed in the master's chambers when he is dying. Legend says that a woman present will impede the peace of the master's journey."
Sovar raised an eyebrow, "Does that make logical sense?"
Cleo hung her head, "No, but it is his wish, and it is logical to respect that wish."
A ghost of a sad smile crossed the old Vulcan's lips, "He sent me to offer you the opportunity I came here to speak with you about." He watched as she swallowed hard. He could almost sense the pain rolling through her body, but admirably in his estimation, for a human she contained it well.
"I know." She said hoarsely.
"I am bringing my son to Farius Prime to assist with the organization of a Vulcan embassy. The planet is in chaos, with the organized crime and the scars of the Dominion war. He will not see it as necessary, especially with a human, but he will need protection."
Cleo looked at Sovar in the eyes, "I will give my life to protect your son if that is my mission."
Sovar nodded, "I know. I normally do not associate humans; Miss Mannheim, but you have impressed me. I owe my life to your efforts. When I look at you I hardly believe you do not have a Vulcan heritage. If you are agreeable, I leave within the hour." He turned and began to walk away.
She looked back at the Buddha statue and then at the back of the elder Vulcan, "Ambassador Sovar," she called out, and he turned, "I will be ready." She pressed her palms together and bowed, "Namaste."
The shuttle rose above the tree line, and Cleo watched the bells begin to toll. She closed her eyes and took deep breath in letting them out slowly. She could not hear the music of the temple bells, but she knew it meant her father had passed. Sovar was looking at her, he bowed his head respectfully and in silence they began their journey to Vulcan.
