Chapter 4

by Starsinger

I'm fast forwarding a bit here to a left out seen from "Vulcan's Heart". A scene you know happened, but wasn't inserted for the sake of the pace of the novel. We'll go from it back to Raisa. Oh, no spoilers here unless you've never seen "Star Trek Generations". Then, that's not my fault. Please read and review. So many people fave and follow, but reviews are my life line. I'm not above begging, obviously. Don't own them.

Ambassador Sarek awaited the imminent arrival of the shuttle from the recently destroyed Enterprise. Healer T'Selis stood at his side. He grieved for those lost in the privacy of his mind. He remembered when Spock was lost on a previous ship, and later reclaimed. He refused to think about what was happening to him now. He watched as the shuttle landed, kicking up the red Vulcan dirt before the hatch opened. T'Selis held triox compounds to help the humans exiting adjust to the extreme climate.

Then they were there. Saavik lay there, still and pale. Sarek resisted the extreme urge to reach out and touch her, ensure that she was still alive. T'Selis instead went to her side. Long, capable fingers touched her temples. The young medic who accompanied Saavik looked drawn and saddened. The loss of her friends and ship clearly taking their toll. T'Selis looked up, "She is clearly in the final stages of Pon Farr. She hasn't entered Plak Tow yet. If we don't retrieve Ambassador Spock soon…" Sarek nodded his head. He would watch the last link to his son die slowly and painfully.

T'Selis motioned for other female attendants to come forward, "Take her to the halls. Strip her and cover her with a sheet. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES ARE ANY MALES ALLOWED IN THERE UNLESS IT IS AMBASSADOR SPOCK!" T'Selis turned from them and approached the humans, holding up the hypospray, "This will help with the climate. Don't resist, you don't know how long you'll be here, and you need the help." They all tilted their heads as the hypospray touched their throats. Sarek's human aide, Aram Koram, led them away to where they could rest and wait.

T'Selis stopped in front of Sarek, "She's very close to death. If Spock doesn't get here soon…"

"How soon?" Sarek asked, tersely.

"Days? Hours? I don't know. The fact that relativity that they both experience regularly plays havoc with their rhythms…" T'Selis' voice trailed off. She was unused to being uncertain. Sarek sighed, what he wouldn't do for Jim Kirk to swoop in and save the day. The man was many years dead, and nothing would change that.

"Please, do what you can to keep my daughter alive. Spock will come back to her, I know he will," T'Selis quietly nodded and hurried away.

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Saavik had worn skirts and dresses before. She was a woman, she did enjoy looking pretty. Now, she had a very good reason for it. The Resort's restaurant catered to a wide variety of tastes from Klingon's live food to the vegetarian tastes of Vulcans and everything in between. The deep rose dress covered her shoulders but left her arms bare. It also allowed Spock to admire her very long legs. Spock wore deep red robes that complemented her dress.

"I was unaware that you knew how to walk in heels," he said.

"Yes, a skill that Vulcan women don't normally pick up. Uhura insisted I learn while I was in the Academy. She told me that I never knew when it might come in handy."

Spock made a mental note to thank his friend before a waiter came to take orders for drinks and give them menus. They both ordered a light pasta salad dressed with a lite basalmic vinaigrette dressing, sprinkled with cashew nuts, and a light white wine for a drink. Alcohol did not affect Vulcans the way it did humans, but they both enjoyed the taste. The resort had only enough rooms for about fifty guests, and they milled around, ate, or went swimming as desire dictated. A couple walked by and hailed Spock, "Ambassador Spock! How good to see you! Who's your friend?"

"Mrs. Troi, it is agreeable to see you again," he nodded at her husband. "This is Commander Saavik, my date."

Lwaxanna Troi gave a knowing smile, she knew what was going on here, and chose to finish her complements and move on. She could be discreet when the moment called for it. Saavik cocked an eyebrow, "I've never met a Betazoid before. Are they always that flamboyant?"

"Mrs. Troi is enjoying herself. She actually is a very perceptive and valuable asset to any delegation. The openness comes from belonging to a race of full telepaths, I suspect. While we Vulcans claim we cannot lie, they really can't. When you live in a society that would instantly know that you are lying, there isn't much of a point. They have a five year old daughter, Deanna I believe her name is. With a human father it is unlikely that she will be a full telepath."

"An empath, maybe?" Saavik asked.

"It will be interesting to find out. Any new cadets that look promising?" Saavik occasionally taught classes at the Academy. Spock always wanted to see what her take on each incoming class was.

"Mmmm, there was one. A Jean Luc Picard is his name. He's very sharp, if he doesn't get himself killed. Reminds a bit of Jim Kirk, got in a brawl in bar and got stabbed in the heart. Received an artificial heart as a result. His analytical skills are similar, but, he's actually got a diplomatic side. Comes from being French, I suppose." She gave an amused sounding snort, "He got me addicted to Earl Grey Tea every morning. I'll have to see if they serve it here."

They ate supper and spent an eventful night in their room. Unfortunately, Saavik received a call early the next morning recalling her to the Armstrong. Spock sighed in disappointment, but they both knew the lives they lead would make this difficult. If she'd stayed on Vulcan she'd have to get used to his long absences. He left the resort contemplating his next steps.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Francis Stewart sat in her room weeping. It had all caught up with her, her friends and captain were all gone. She heard a knock on the door and Ambassador Sarek entered at her call, "Ambassador," she said with a start. He waved her back down, even giving her a handkerchief. "Thank you," she said, blotting her eyes.

"Thank you, Lieutenant, for bringing Saavik home," he said.

"How is she doing?" Francis asked.

"She is dying, Lieutenant, and there's nothing anyone on Vulcan can do to stop it," he sighed, unused to feeling helpless. "Starfleet called. It will be approximately one week before transport will arrive to return you and your colleagues to Earth." The sad look he directed toward her made her want to weep even more, "An attack never occurred on Melville Colony, even though Narendra III was completely obliterated. The Klingons are again making overtures toward peace."

"The Enterprise accomplished more things than one," Francis mumbled.

"Yes, her Captain's unswerving desire to defend those who had no defenses helped them open up. They've even started talking about building a memorial to the Enterprise crew. Ironic as it is," he said quietly.

"You knew Captain Kirk," she said.

"Yes, I did. And he would have done the exact same thing," Sarek replied. "He would have jumped over 'Klingons' and gone straight for the defenseless old men, women, and children, and defended them to the death as well. I'm sorry, my children's situation has me…" he couldn't finish the sentence. Everything was crashing in on him.

Francis stood, she knew you didn't touch Vulcans, but this one needed a hug, and so she gave him one.