Ice and Fire
Chapter 4: A Gentleman Unknown.
When Amanda and Mike eventually boarded the U.S.S Insala, they learned that Sarek was already ensconced in his quarters. After making introductions to the Vulcan captain and his senior officers, Mike took her down in the turbo lift. As they stood outside Sarek's door, Amanda's heart hammered frantically, half in alarm, half in exhilaration at the thought of again meeting the enigmatic Vulcan who would be her host for the next six months. Standing there, she felt like the little girl she had once been, obsessed by a stranger from the stars. Amused, she stifled an abrupt giggle, but her hilarity swiftly died as a sonorous voice from within summoned them with a single, brusque, 'Sarlah.'
In bemused fascination, she followed Mike's lead and the next instant Sarek's cool, impersonal gaze swept over her as he rose from sitting seiza behind a low desk and came to greet them.
She experienced definite relief when his attention fixed on Mike who raised his hand in some kind of formal, spread-fingered salute. "Vulcan honours us with your presence. We come to serve."
Sarek inclined his head in princely acknowledgement. "My friend, Gorsky, your service honours us as always."
"Thank you, sir." Face carefully composed Mike bowed precisely. He indicated Amanda, "May I introduce Miss Amanda Grayson from the Federation Cultural Institute?"
A small, but unmistakeable pause followed, "Miss Grayson and I have already met."
Amanda's heart jolted. He had removed the outer robes that had given him such a commanding presence in the crowded terminal, but still the breadth of shoulder, the lithely muscled frame outlined beneath the simply tailored black tunic proved intimidating. His patrician features, the strong nose and broad cheekbones seemed carved from granite, imbued with a grandeur more suited to windswept desert plains than this sparsely furnished chamber aboard the Insala Definitely not handsome in the accepted sense, his very austerity had a certain appeal.
Was he really just some minor civil servant in the Vulcan Government? Certainly, there were no aides to wait on him; he wore no visible badge to proclaim rank or station - not the Vulcan Way apparently - and yet if bearing had anything to do with it, he was undoubtedly some undercover lordling on a reconnaissance of his own.
What she really needed to do was retrieve her position with him by saying something really logical and intelligent but, maddeningly, nothing but banal generalities came to mind. Darn! What made the situation infinitely worse was the sudden realization that somehow he knew of her silly dilemma.
His compelling eyes riveted her to the spot, held her there like a butterfly on a pin. "I am pleased to see that your time-keeping has improved."
A rush of pink stained Amanda's cheeks. She bit her lip, afraid that she had already antagonised Sarek who had the power to proclaim her unsuitable and order her return to Earth. She refrained from looking at Mike as she struggled for an even, conciliatory tone, "I apologise, sir. The delay at the terminal was unavoid…"
He held up a peremptory hand, "Your excuses are of no interest to me, Miss Grayson. I trust it will not happen in the future."
Immediately he returned his attention to Mike and said something rapidly in Vulcan that she found impossible to follow. Together, Sarek and Mike conversed in the formidably complex language, which so effectively excluded her from the conversation. Standing at Mike's elbow, overawed and confused, the talk flowed over her. However, when Sarek's cool glance flicked in her direction more than once, Amanda had the distinct impression that she was the topic under discussion.
Irked by his aloof hauteur, she still found it impossible to take her eyes off him. Amanda concealed a self-derisive smile, aware she was acting like the girl in the antique 20th century novel her father had given her, when faced by the imposing main character. His description from the book, read more than once, seemed imprinted on her memory.
----He belonged to a walled city of the fifteenth century, a city of narrow, cobbled streets, and thin spires, where the inhabitants wore pointed shoes and worsted hose. His face was arresting, sensitive, medieval in some strange inexplicable way, and (I was) reminded of a portrait seen in a gallery (I had) forgotten where, of a certain Gentleman Unknown. Put him in black, with lace at his throat and wrists, he would stare down at us in our new world from a long distant past – a past where men walked cloaked at night, and stood in the shadow of old doorways. A past of narrow stairways and dim dungeons, a past of whispers in the dark, of shimmering rapier blades, of silent, exquisite courtesy ----
At last, with an inclination of the head, Sarek indicated the meeting was at an end. Mike performed a strictly formal bow of his own and escorted her from the room. As the door swept back and Amanda stepped through it, she could sense those penetrating dark eyes fixed on her back. In what category, she wondered briefly had that logical mind placed her now. It could only be third rate judging from his frigid reception. For an instant, she experienced a spurt of annoyance but almost as quickly reined it in. Such emotion was now a luxury she could no longer afford. Mike must have known her state of mind for when the door slid shut, he grinned at her, his eyes twinkling.
"How do your romantic dreams of Vulcans rate now?"
Amanda managed a shaky grin in return, "Dispelled forever. Are they all like that or is Sarek an exception to the rule?"
Mike, with a hand under her elbow, drew her away from the door before murmuring, "Oh, you've seen nothing yet. But take my advice, and don't judge him from your experience so far. There's far more to Sarek than he lets show."
"Like an iceberg, you mean?" Merriment lit up her eyes, "Ten per cent ice above the water and ninety percent beneath it. What were you talking about? Not me, by any chance?"
"Weren't you following the conversation? Oh, good Lord, I forgot you haven't had time to learn Vulcan yet."
"Nope." She held up the tapes, "But I've got these, and the two days it takes to reach our destination."
"Ah, that makes things just a tad awkward." Obviously embarrassed, he ran a hand through his corn-coloured hair.
"Oh, why?"
Mike shrugged, "Sarek wants to give you a few lessons in polite behaviour before you meet his family."
"Lessons in what?"
"Vulcan propriety. It's something of an obstacle to all of us. Sarek won't have meant anything personal by his suggestion. He's acting out of logic, nothing more."
"That's good of him. May I ask what Vulcan propriety makes of Humans generally, if not me, specifically?"
"I guess it's easily offended," his mouth twitched with amusement, "– or, at least, T'Pau's particular brand of it is."
Wide-eyed Amanda gazed at him, hardly able to believe what she had just heard. She was to meet the Vulcan head of state. "Sarek belongs to T'Pau's family?"
"She's his grandmother by all accounts, though with their strict privacy codes we're not too sure even of that. In due course T'Pau personally assesses all outworlder's. I don't want to scare you unnecessarily, but she's a tough old girl and the expedition relies on her good opinion. Sarek's stake in the mission is equal or even higher than that of the Federation. It was his idea in the first place. He sold it to T'Pau and he stands to lose a lot of professional prestige if she doesn't approve of how we act."
"Yes, I can imagine." Amanda sighed softly; aware she had little choice in the matter. "Okay, when are these 'lessons' scheduled to begin?"
"Five minutes ago." Mike shrugged at her abrupt pout and grinned, "Just joking. On reflection, I think it was better that you didn't understand what was said in there. Sarek doesn't pull many punches."
She sighed again, "So what did he say?"
"You won't like it." He took her arm and led her further down the corridor.
"Maybe not, but I'd still like to know."
"His exact words were, 'If she is going to fill in some of the lamentable gaps in her knowledge, she cannot start too soon…' you have time to change into something more 'appropriate' before returning."
"His words again?"
"'Fraid so."
She shook her head. At least her lack of understanding had prevented her from making an emotional retort that would certainly have damned her in Sarek's eyes. That was something to be grateful for, she supposed. In spite of herself, Amanda chuckled, azure eyes brilliant. "Where do I change?"
"Your quarters are here." He stopped before an anonymous door. "I'm two doors down on the other side. When you're ready, just go along to Sarek's cabin. He'll be expecting you."
Amanda heaved a mock sigh. "Thanks."
"Scared? Don't be --- Sarek's vegetarian. He won't eat you." After an infinitesimal hesitation, he bent and brushed her cheek with his lips. "I'll see you later, okay? For dinner."
"That's a date, Mr Gorsky."