Maat S'chn T'gai

Chapter Three - Sarek

San Francisco, Earth

April 2264

Sarek

He was not so sure that he had made the right decision. He had thought it was, but now he was not so sure. But he must do something! He had no more than eight months left. If he returned to New Vulcan without having met his objective, he knew that T'Pau would demand that he let her choose for him, and choose quickly. This was not what he wanted, not in the least.

He had a duty to his clan. He knew that. He must not let the fires come upon him unprepared. He must find a solution, one that he could live with. He sighed. Why must life be so hard? He must do something to calm himself. He rose and went to the closet, pulling out his riding leathers. He would go for a ride, up the coast, over the water. That never failed to help him think things through.

In the Embassy garage, he unlocked the small storage area where he kept his hoverbike, and checked it over, to be sure that it did not need anything. He unplugged the bike from the charger, and wheeled it out of the storage area. He put the helmet on his head, fastening the strap under his chin, and mounted the bike, moving completely off the Embassy grounds before lifting into the air.

The feel of the throbbing engine under him, the brush of the cool air against him, the waves tumbling below, all had their effect. By the time he reached the clearing between the trees that he had visited so many times before, he was much calmer, more collected. He set the bike down and dismounted, and walked about, enjoying the trees, the wildflowers, the soft grass in the clearing. It did something very good to his katra to be here, where nature ruled and there was no sign of man.

When he felt relaxed again, he remounted the bike and returned to the Embassy. He wheeled the bike back into the storage shed and reconnected it to the recharger, so that it would be ready the next time he needed it. He returned to his quarters, and took a long hot shower, and then, dressed in loose pants and a long-sleeved tee shirt, he settled down before his firepot, and sank into meditation. He would work on his problem again tomorrow, with his mind and body refreshed.

"***"

He was determined. He would follow this through. If it did not work out, then he would think of something else. But he would give this a chance, would see what would come of it. He could not give up before he even started. That would be illogical.

He was Vulcan. He followed logic. He knew his duty. He also knew himself, what he needed in order to survive. So he would proceed, logically, toward that. He was determined. He was most definitely not ready to give up.