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Judith hurried up the steps of the Consulate, running a few fingers through her hair to straighten it as she saw her reflection in the great glass doors. She pushed one open and stepped into the lobby, which was curiously much warmer than the outside. She knew from spending time with Meral that Vulcans rather liked the heat, but she wasn't expecting it to be quite this warm.
Still, she strode confidently across the polished marble floor towards the secretary, who was reading something on a PADD. It came as a great surprise last night to receive a message from Soval himself, inviting her to meet with him. L'Vek, it seemed, had set up this meeting, so she could vouch for Meral and his earnest desire to stay on Earth.
The secretary handed her a pass, and she hung it around her neck and quickly thanked the woman, listening carefully to the directions to Meral's old office. Strange that the ambassador would want to meet there, but dealer's choice, she supposed.
She expected the place to be empty, but instead, she found a tall, young Vulcan unpacking a few boxes. His hair was dark brown and sleek, shiny in a way most Vulcan hair wasn't. His robes were ornate, flowing over his toned body as if they had been made especially for him. She paused at the sight of him and waited just outside the door, but it seemed he heard her approach. He turned and frowned at her.
"Can I help you?"
"Yer ambassador told me to wait 'ere."
"For what purpose?"
"'Don know. Ambassador Soval would know more about dat den me."
He made a face as if an unpleasant smell was in the room, and he raised an eyebrow at her attire, her usual combination of a simple shirt and cargo pants.
"Your accent is especially thick. What part of Earth are you from?"
"Jamaica, man."
"Jamiacamon? I've never heard of that region." His eyes glittered in what almost looked like malice, and she frowned.
"Jamaica. Surely you hear of Jamaica, right?"
"Ah, the island. You are incredibly difficult to understand," he said lightly.
"Sorry 'bout dat. Dat be de tongue o' de island for ya."
He smirked. "Really, how do your fellow humans understand you through that accent?"
Judith felt a twinge of annoyance, and she narrowed her eyes at him. He had immediately gone back to unpacking, and she had the intense feeling that she would not like this person.
"Is Ambassador Soval comin' soon, man?"
"Forgive me, but I did not understand that question. Perhaps you should improve your English, as to make it easier for others to understand your inquiries." He pointed to himself, as if she were a simpleton. "I am Renuk, L'Vek's new aide. And you are?"
"Renuk, this is Judith Keeler. I have an appointment with her. If you would please leave the room for a few minutes? L'Vek is in his office. He wishes to speak with you."
Judith turned around and fought the urge to gape at Ambassador Soval, who was framed impressively in the doorway. The elder Vulcan stepped aside and allowed Renuk to pass, and the young Vulcan bowed slightly to the diplomat as he vacated his office.
Soval turned to Judith and raised an eyebrow. "You are Meral's...mate?"
"I be Meral's girl, if he want me still." She smiled, then frowned. "Sir."
He folded his hands in front of him and fixed her with a long stare, and she swallowed. "You wanted to talk to me, ambassador?"
"I...apologize for the inconvenience I might have caused you both. Truly, L'Vek reported that Meral was not acclimating to life on Earth as we thought he might. That was, however, before you went to Jamaica with him," he added, his gaze softening ever so slightly. "I am pleased that you have finally gotten through to him. There is, of course, one problem."
Judith nodded. "That scum of de Earth who call himself Renuk."
Soval's eyes twinkled at that description. "He is from a high house, a wealthy, influential house. Meral, on the other hand, is from a low house. The caste system was abolished with the dawn of logic, but that does not make this any easier. As a test, to ensure that Meral really has changed, I am sending you to Vulcan."
"For what?"
"To meet with him. If he bonds with you, as he threatened to do since I told him of his recall, you will contact me and tell me. If he does not bond with you, if he has found contentment on Vulcan, then contact me, and I will send a transport to bring you back here. Am I understood?"
"Crystal clear, ambassador."
He nodded. "You leave as soon as you can inform your workplace of this trip. If they give you trouble, tell them to contact me."
"Tank you, ambassador."
"There is no need for gratitude. I was mistaken for pulling Meral off of this planet in the first place. Good day, Ms. Keeler."
She bowed her head slightly and smiled brightly at him, her mood lifting for the first time since Meral had left. He led her out of the office, and she walked down the steps of the Consulate, she received a message from her father.
…
Judith slipped into the booth across from the broad-shouldered, balding man who raised her, and she smiled at him, taking his hand across the formica table.
"My baby girl," Jovan Keeler purred, stroking the meat of her thumb. "What's got my little ball of sunshine all in a tizzy, eh?"
She sighed and glanced at the lunch menu, but she found her appetite was gone. "I be goin' to Vulcan soon, papa."
"What for?"
"To find da man of my dreams. He got recalled to Vulcan a few weeks ago now."
Jovan raised a snowy eyebrow. "And what is dis Vulcan man doin' wit my baby girl?"
"Lovin' on her like nobody's business. He be good to me, papa, and I be good to him...an' for him. He walked around wit no ting but clouds above his head, but I showed him de sunshine."
Her father roared with laughter. "Dat's my baby girl! Show de Vulcans de sunshine of our mudda country, ai!"
She giggled under her breath, then sobered. "De Vulcan who replace him be...de worst man on de planet, papa."
"No," he replied sympathetically. "Remember what I tell you, Judith. Love all, be kind to all, and dey be kind to you."
"Not wit him. He...I don' want to be around him."
Jovan shrugged. "Why, then? You've got your Vulcan man who sees de sunshine. You don' need no otha ting but dat and de good friends you have. How be Emmie-girl?"
"Four months along, and happy as de clams," Judith said proudly. "Mister L'Vek is sweet on her...I can see it."
He grinned, glancing around at the other patrons; none of them were paying him any heed. "Between you an' I, baby girl...L'Vek be a lucky man, eh? Dat girl be de hottest ting in San Francisco."
She slapped her father's shoulder. "Papa!"
"What? It be de truth! She be hot like de sauna...like yer mama."
Judith's eyes misted fondly at the memory of her mother. "How is Chicago, papa?"
"I miss Jamaica, but de pay be betta in de States. An' Viotech be good to me. If you be needin' money for yer wedding, you give me a call, baby girl, an' I'll see you get a nice wedding."
She giggled incredulously. "Papa, I don' know if he want me anymore."
"Oh, but he does. I know my baby girl, an' I know she wouldn't be goin' after a dream. You are my down-to-Earth Judith, and if you tink he de one...he be de one."
She smiled.
…
Judith clutched the PADD containing Meral's address tightly to her chest, looking up at the street signs in bemusement. She wished she knew Vulcan, so she could direct herself instead of having to loosen her accent and talk to the natives. Some didn't understand English, and the ones that did had a hard time understanding her. She sighed, checking the street name again, but it didn't match up.
She saw a gray-haired Vulcan man walking her way, and she headed towards him, determined to get help.
"Excuse me, Mista Vulcan man...I be lookin' for dis address. Can you help me, please?"
Oratt's brows furrowed and he took a step back. He reached out and took the PADD, albeit reluctantly, and then frowned as he handed it back to her. "I think you must be lost. The man who lives at that address, I am fairly certain, would not receive human visitors."
"Dat as much as you know. I be his woman, his..." she paused, racking her brains for the Vulcan word he used, "ashaya."
Oratt snorted softly. "Very well," he said with a mocking tone. "Follow me."
He turned on his heel and lead her to the house next to his. When they reached the walking path to Meral's house, Oratt stood with his arms folded before him. "Down that path. I'll wait here in case you need escort out of this neighborhood."
She laughed and patted his shoulder, in a friendly manner. "You not dat bad, Mista Vulcan man. I be bettin' you find yerself a good girl soon, eh?"
Oratt narrowed his eyes at her, but she just gave him a bright smile, her good mood returning. "Tank you fer de help, sir. You have a good day now."
He sighed heavily and closed his eyes, and she hurried down the path, eager to get out of the heat of the Vulcan sun, and to see Mr. Meral again, to tell him all about the arrogant good-for-nothing snob that had taken his place.
She knocked on the door and waited, sweating in the midday sun. She glanced back at the doctor, who was staring incredulously at her, but she turned when the door opened.
…
Meral sighed as he walked home from the transport, the late-day heat reflecting from every rock on the way. Kir was quieter than Shi'Kahr, for which he was grateful. Noise did not agree with him, not after his terrible realization that Judith might become attracted to his replacement. He had never met Renuk of Shi'Kahr, but he heard rumor that the man was at ease around women, charismatic, even charming, if one could call a Vulcan charming. The man usually got what he wanted, and it pained him to think of his Judith in the arms of someone else.
But Renuk, he knew, was from a high house, with family members on the Vulcan Science Academy Board of Directors, the Vulcan Intelligence Service and the High Command. He came from power and wealth; Meral needed what little influence and money he had to support his parents, who lived on Blacksmith's Street, their lifestyles simple, meager even. It was his duty to support them, and he quickly cast the thought of Judith from his mind.
It was impossible. The thoughts of her and Renuk touching each other, kissing each other, getting into bed together plagued him, made the emptiness in his katra that much more noticable.
He was brought out of his reverie the sight of his neighbor Oratt lingering outside his gate, narrowing his eyes at the house.
"Meral, a human woman just asked me to directions to your home. She has gone inside, claiming to be your mate."
He stared at his neighbor, blinking rapidly, and he turned immediately to the open gate and low-lying house. "How long ago?"
"No more than ten minutes."
"Describe her."
Oratt frowned. "Uncouth accent, brown skin, like the color of a sehlat's pelt, and short hair-"
Meral didn't wait a moment longer, but hurried to the house and slipped into the foyer of his home, setting aside his outer robes, following the voices to the kitchen.