Disclaimer – If I could claim Star Trek as my own I would
Earth date – 23rd December 2257, en route to Kenya, African Confederation
'I'll be home for Christmas'
Uhura sat back in the plush brown seat. She tried not to stare too hard at her fellow occupants en route to Earth. Having spent five days on Vulcan meeting Spock's family, she was still in a daze that his clan matriarch was T'Pau of all people.
T'Pau, the only planetary leader to turn down a seat on the Federation Council,* to this day no one knew her reason. Uhura was surprised at how small she looked, due to her Vulcan DNA, she only looked around 60 years old despite being way past 100. Age was difficult to pinpoint with Vulcans. Uhura took another peek at Sarek. She had to get use to not using his title. At first she was afraid he would not make her feel welcome. Based on Spock's accounts it seemed he was hoping to raise the perfect Vulcan son, to marry the perfect Vulcan female and raise perfect Vulcan children. Uhura could not see the logic in that, since he himself never married a Vulcan and no one was perfect, not even Vulcans. Over to her far right he sat next to his wife, the Lady Amanda. 'Just call me Amanda,' she insisted to Uhura. Whether it was down to her influence or not, the clan accepted Spock's choice. It seemed Amanda had done her homework; looking into the traditions of the Kikiyu tribe and other Kenyan traditions. They were still trying to find a way to compromise on the presentation of a goat; the dowry aspect was no problem since Vulcans were familiar with the practise.
Some ancient Earth marriage traditions were modernised since the early days of United Earth. Thankfully child marriages never took place, FGM was a practise confined to pre Genocide War history books and compulsory, universal education to the age of 18 for all, meant females had economic freedom and a standard of living their 21st century ancestors would envy, no matter where on Earth they lived. But pleasant, positive and good traditions remained and one of them, for her part of the world was 'get a goat'.
Uhura tried to persuade Sarek and Amanda they could ignore the goat part but Sarek considered the idea a diplomatic challenge. How to present a goat as a dowry, but not actually have the creature eaten. Spock tried to divert her attention, but Uhura did not want the meeting of the two families to be a disaster just because of some damn goat! Maybe they should forget the whole traditional marriage thing and just elope after she graduated. After all Sarek saw the logic between a union with his son, and the daughter of a prominent family in Kenya, with connections to the African Senate. Trade negotiations might be a lot less stressful with a tribe connected to the House of Surak. Well, as Uhura said to Spock if this is how Sarek gave his blessing to their union, she would take whatever logical Vulcan reasons he came up with to sell this to the Vulcan council.
Spock was right; there was nothing to be worried about. Worry was illogical. She sat back in her plush brown seat, resting her head against the shoulder of her soon to be fiancée.
Xxxxx
(Conversation in Swahili)
"I thought they were coming to our home, Mumu?" Alhamisi Uhura asked as he settled beside his wife in the air car on their way to the Vulcan consulate.
"Change of plans, due to security concerns. I told you inviting our parents and grandparents to meet Nyota's Vulcan boyfriend was a bit much. We don't need a committee to scare anyone." M'Umbha answered as she got ready to pilot the car.
"I thought Vulcans couldn't get scared." He mumbled in return.
His wife turned to him, exasperation in her voice. "I don't understand you husband, you seemed pleased when you heard Ambassador Sarek and T'Pau were Spock's relatives. Do you know what this could mean for our family?"
"Is this the reason why you're all giddy with the idea?" Alhamisi questioned, voice raised in suspicion.
"Of course not, Spock and I have been talking for months, long before I knew who his kin were." His wife slipped out.
"What do you mean, you and Spock 'have been talking for months'? I thought you only heard about him last month, M'Umbha?"
Oops…me and my big mouth, she thought as her mind whirled around to come up with an excuse.
XXXXXXX
"If you ask me it's a waste of a good goat," Alhamisi moaned as they prepared to return home. The evening at the embassy went well; at least her husband had behaved himself. The Lady Amanda was a charming woman, she looked forward to keeping in touch with her and having her drop by the next time they had to travel to Earth. As for the Ambassador he looked less intimidating in the flesh then he did on holotv.
"But a brilliant compromise and a golden business opportunity for our family" M'Umbha reminded him.
"So, has Spock won your approval Misi?" she asked as they prepared for take-off.
"He would have done, if he let me take the goats home for dinner." He grumbled, he turned at the sound of the extra guests they had on board their transport.
It was Spock that came up with the goat compromise. Two goats were purchased by the embassy staff on Sarek's behalf. He presented the goats as tradition dictated with the proviso they would live full natural lives, and not consumed for food. However goats' milk and cheese were acceptable sources of nutrition for Vulcans and so The Shi-Kahr Uhura milk and cheese company was born.
Author's notes
For some reason this chapter needed to be told from a Human point of view, I just could not get their voices out of my head. The next chapter will have a Vulcan perspective.
*The novel The Romulan war – 'To Brave the storm' states T'Pau turned down the seat due to the guilt she felt over using military action against the Romulans to end help Earth. She was a pacifist due to her strong Syrannite views. IMO she came across as naive in those novels.
Genocide War – my name for Earth's World War Three, where in my head canon billions died.