Chapter 8
Amanda scanned the crowd of gathering people below. A soft voice muttered in her earwig updating her on the security arrangements for the evening. She was supposed to be scanning the area for potential threats for the Ambassador. However, with over three hundred people present that was nigh on impossible.
She recalled the briefing that she and the other aides had attended where they were given the lowdown on detecting suspicious behaviour and what to do in an emergency. They had briefly recapped the self-defence manoeuvres they had all been taught before they started their posts. Amanda wasn't really worried about that, she was more worried about holding her wits together if something did happen or if she overreacted to something benign. The Security Chief had assured them that they wouldn't be alone. With everyone wearing earwigs, all they had to do was report suspicious behaviour and the security team would investigate.
Amanda was fairly confident she could obstruct a crazy human heading her way. But if it was a Vulcan or any of the other species, she had no idea. She could always trip them up and sit on them she supposed?
The meeting had ended on the cheery note of: "Hope for the best, expect the worst." Exchanging humorous glances with the other aides, they had returned to their rooms to prepare for the evening.
After the evening meal all the politicians and their respective aides as well as some VIPs would head to the Star room. A grandiose ball room dotted with various furnishings and refreshments to encourage people to converse and mingle. On opposite sides of the room, windows looked out onto the vacuum of space. Amanda pretended to be looking out the window at the far side of the room which viewed the Earth in the distance whilst she monitored the goings on at the centre of the room.
The polished floor sparkled from the lights up above, Amanda found herself mesmerised with the shadows dancing across it when a voice interrupted her thoughts.
"Miss Grayson." Turning around she smiled a greeting upon seeing the Ambassador.
He was wearing a special set of bronze robes tonight, complete with silver sash embroidered with Vulcan script. It gave him an almost regal air. She felt a little bit dressed down compared to him. But trying to compete by wearing a ball gown and tiara seemed a little ridiculous.
"Ambassador," she bowed her head respectfully. Anyone could be watching at any given moment so she had to be especially careful with her behaviour this evening.
"Attend," he said simply. And with that, he proceeded down the steps.
Sticking close behind him so she didn't lose him in the crowd, Amanda whispered into her mike:
"Ambassador Sarek is approaching the floor."
"Affirmative, just keep an eye on him Amanda. Don't let him out of your sight," crackled the earwig.
Following the Ambassador from conversation to conversation, Amanda stood politely at the side, PADD at the ready in case he might request something of her. This was highly unlikely, with Vulcans having eidetic memory Amanda's primary role for reminding the Ambassador of who was who seemed superfluous. Nevertheless, she had to be there; even if she was doing nothing.
Amanda attempted to listen in on the conversations from time to time but she found her mind wandered easily. Her concentration was completely shot. She had been up since early this morning and with only a few hours' sleep to cling on to she thought she was doing well for this time of night. The idea of crawling onto one of the comfy chaise lounges placed around the room and have a nap was incredibly compelling. But she knew she shouldn't.
As the Ambassador milled about the room, Amanda decided to check her messages. Scanning through the advertisements and bank notices she found that she still had no reply from Daniel. A frown settled across her features, she worried about him.
Glancing about the room for what felt like the hundredth time, something caught her eye. Looking to the railing on the upper level she espied a small Vulcan child. She hadn't realised children would be coming to the events this evening. She walked over to get a closer look and recognised it to be a boy. He looked to be about nine years old, by human standards anyway. His gaze was wandering through the crowds. Although he appeared to be showing no outward sign of emotions, his behaviour seemed to indicate distress.
"Chief, I see a small Vulcan child without its parent. I think it's lost. Permission to investigate?" she whispered to her mike.
"Permission granted. Handerson, take up Amanda's position on Ambassador Sarek," ordered the Chief.
"Yes Sir," replied Handerson.
Amanda glanced towards the Ambassador but he was engaged in conversation and seemed completely oblivious to her presence. She figured that he would survive on his own.
Slipping away, she walked up some stairs and around the edge of the room until she found him. His eyes were still darting everywhere. Clearing her throat, she attempted to put her Vulcan language skills into practice. She hoped that they hadn't faded through lack of use.
"Child, are you lost?" she asked him kindly.
The boy spun round to face her. He looked at her with an almost scientific regard. For a moment, he seemed unsure of whether to speak to her or not. She was almost worried that he might run away. But after due consideration, he decided to stay.
"I am unaware of the location of my father." He spoke softly, almost too quiet for Amanda to hear.
He turned to look out over the rail, but he was a little too short to see over it.
"I cannot see with this obstruction," he declared. A small amount of frustration leaked out into his voice.
Amanda examined the child in his grey tunic with his shiny black hair and small pointed ears. Seeing the concentrated frown on his face, she felt her heart warm. She had somehow forgotten how much she liked to be around children.
Before he could say a word against it, she grabbed him underneath the armpits and placed him on a small ledge so that he could grab the railing and see the floor clearly. This was no mean feat; Vulcan children were most definitely heavier than they appeared!
"This is highly irregular!" appealed the squirming Vulcan in her hands.
"Hush now. Stop struggling and see if you can find your parents," she said firmly, struggling to hold back laughter at his words.
Given a simple instruction to follow, the boy settled and started to scan the crowd. Amanda saw the Ambassador speaking with a Cardassian delegate; he seemed to not have noticed her disappearing act… so far.
"There!" The boy pointed at a Vulcan couple in the distance.
Taking a good look at them, Amanda set the boy down. She crouched down to the boy's level.
"Stay close to me and I'll lead you to your parents. We don't want you getting lost!" She smiled.
"No," the boy said so very seriously.
Standing up she charted a path that would hopefully avoid the Ambassador and take her straight to the boy's parents.
Heading off, she checked to see if the boy had kept up and she could see him scurrying after her. She knew it would be improper to hold his hand as she would a normal human child. But soon enough she felt a little hand grab hold of the side of her dress. She beamed at him and he gave her a curious look.
"Hold on little one."
Weaving her way through the masses they finally converged on the couple. As they came into view, the child immediately detached and ran to his parents. His parents seemed to look down at him gravely. Sheepishly, the boy offered two fingers outstretched to his mother. The mother returned the gesture in kind for a moment and then they broke apart. Curious, Amanda thought.
The mother walked forward to greet her. The boy shuffled behind and peered round her skirts to watch.
"We must thank you for your kindness Miss…?"
"Miss Grayson." She bowed her head. "It was no trouble."
The mother bowed in kind and gestured for her husband to join her. He broke apart from his conversation with another and joined her side. It seemed like women did have some power in their relationships. Or at least this one did. The woman looked at her appraisingly. If it hadn't been for all the scrutinising she'd been under from Ambassador Sarek, she might have blushed. Instead, she looked calmly back.
"My name is Svelda and this is my Husband Varok." She gestured to him. Varok bowed his head and watched her intently.
"You have earned our son's trust and so you have earned ours. Pray… what is your occupation here?" she asked.
"I..." Amanda began, but was interrupted.
"She is my aide," said a stern voice from behind her.
The Ambassador seemed to have appeared out of nowhere. Turning around, she bowed her head in apology. At least she hoped that was the right thing to do.
"My apologies Osu, I did not mean to be gone for so long." She looked into his face, his eyes seemed hard. She couldn't tell if it was the lighting though.
He greeted the couple and they bowed respectfully. Amanda noticed that the boy seemed to have disappeared again. She caught him behind his mother, for some reason he seemed to be avoiding the Ambassador…
Amanda waited patiently for the conversation to end before being led away to a refreshments stand. As the Ambassador quenched his throat, he looked at her sternly.
"You should not have approached the child," he scolded.
"But why? He was clearly lost and needed help. I had permission from the Security Chief."
"You would not understand. It is not part of your culture," he stated, before continuing his drink.
"Try me." She folded her arms across her chest testily.
"I think not," he said.
Frustration boiled inside her. Aware that they may be being watched, Amanda put on a fake smile before she spoke again.
"And exactly how am I meant to know how to interact with your Vulcan counterparts if you do not inform me of the aspects of your culture, pray tell?" she asked icily.
The Ambassador stared at his glass as he set it on the table. He breathed deeply before coming to a decision. Beckoning, he walked to an empty part of the window and gazed to the stars outside. Amanda stood next to him and leaned on the railing. Her feet and back were starting to ache, she realised miserably.
"You are aware of the telepathic abilities of my species?" he asked quietly.
"Vaguely… I know that children are bonded at a young age and that skin contact allows telepathic transference," she murmured.
"There are bonds within the family as well. Parents, children, siblings and relatives can communicate with each other without skin contact. However, some Vulcan children grow up and have limited telepathic ability."
"You mean the boy?" she asked.
"Indeed." He nodded. "It is common practice in our culture to test those who struggle by separating the family amongst a crowd. Normal children have no issue in locating their family through telepathy. However some can be overwhelmed by telepathic interference. It is a focussing exercise, requiring concentration and nothing more," he explained.
"So I interrupted some kindof test?" she asked. He nodded the affirmative. "But the boy was clearly distressed," she exclaimed.
"I am aware of that. But that is how it is done." He looked at her as if to say: and that is that.
"It seems unnecessarily cruel to me," she mumbled.
The Ambassador turned away from the window.
"Like I said, you would not understand."
Amanda felt a pang of regret at his statement. She was trying, but it was so difficult when everything was explained to her too late. She turned around and walked to him.
"I'm sorry, I am trying." He gazed down at her for a moment, she almost thought she saw softness in his eyes but soon his attention was drawn away. "I suppose I should apologise to them." She shrugged hopelessly.
"That is not necessary. I will speak on your behalf," he said authoritatively. He turned to her. "I must speak with Ambassador Ovina. Stay here until I return."
Amanda nodded morosely. She'd made a mistake and now she was being punished. Watching him walk away she let out a deep sigh. Staring out at the stars her mind wandered along until a sharp tug at her dress roused her.
Looking down, she found the Vulcan boy. She smiled instantly, weariness forgotten for a moment.
"Hello little one."
