Holography 3
As a Reminder and a Promise
By
Pat Foley
Chapter 21
Sarek too had noted this was the first occasion of T'Pau's acceptance of his wife in his presence. He had listened to the words of those others who approached him with one part of his attention, but another part of him was back in memory, far back, to when he had first brought his wife to his planet
And when he and T'Pau had clashed in serious contention over her status. He had approached her again, in this same Council chamber. But she had been adamant.
Stardate 2230.11 Vulcan
"I will not sanction the marriage."
"It is a foregone conclusion. We are bonded. We are one. There is nothing else but to sanction the marriage. It exists in truth."
"She is human."
"I have noticed."
"You cannot be one with a human."
"That she happens to be human is immaterial."
"What of children? What of heirs? They are not immaterial."
Sarek hesitated for the first time. "Amanda wishes children. She wants them very much."
"Thee are not even of the same species!"
"There are medical advances. Hybridologists consider it possible. And I have promised Amanda we shall pursue it."
"Even if such a miracle would be possible, thee intend to present a Halfling Terran child to council as your heir?"
Sarek's eyes narrowed. "If he is worthy, what does it matter? He would still be my son. All that is required of my heir is that."
"No, Sarek. I will not accept it."
"Legally, once presented by me to Council, his right of inheritance cannot be denied."
"Sarek,Xtmprszqzntwlfb passions are known to be very strong. There is accepted precedent in our ancient line for wife and …others. Keep this human as such, if you must have her. If you but take a Vulcan wife, and have proper heirs, I will sanction your keeping of the human in all else. Have her bear whatever half Terran monsters she will."
"Do not speak so of my children, T'Pau."
"You have no children yet, Sarek, and are not likely to, with such a wife as she. I beg you, my son, to take a Vulcan woman to wife who can bear a proper heir. She can live in your suite at the palace. You may keep this human at the Fortress-"
"Her name is Amanda. And she is my wife."
"You have yet to go through a Time with her. She is at best, consort only until then. For now, this bonding…if it is a bonding, can be one, with a human, could not be said to be irrevocable. Not until thee have been through a Time. Sarek, for your own safety, for your own life, I must insist you do as I bid. You must form another liaison. Quickly before it becomes too irrevocable. Then when the Time comes upon you, and this human rejects you, you will have a proper wife waiting to whom you can turn-"
"It has been irrevocable for some time. And I have faith that Amanda will not reject me."
"You cannot know that. No more than a human can know of our ancient needs."
"She has been instructed, and accepted her responsibilities."
"Words alone cannot convey the ancient instincts required."
"Then I will train her in the ancient instincts required."
"Sarek you know that is folly!"
"She is my wife, and I will keep her, and only her, as such. I want and will have no other."
"If you care so much for her life, Sarek, then do this for her."
"What do you mean?"
"You could kill her in the Time."
"I would not!"
"If she rejects you-"
"She will not."
"Sarek you do not know this. Vulcan passions are strong and unvarying. Human emotion is fickle; it is not constant. The two are not compatible. Even without the stress of Pon Far, human liaisons seldom last."
"Amanda is bonded to me."
"And if she rejects you in the time, that bonding - you –could well cause her death. You have yet to go through a Time. You do not truly know of the madness of that time. I counsel you, my son, that our ways are not for outworlders."
Sarek said nothing.
"If you will not do it for me, then do it for her. Consider this in her best interests. Take this precaution. Keep the human if you must. But take a Vulcan wife as well, for when the ancient drives come upon you."
"I do not want another wife," Sarek said stubbornly. "I know I will only want her. And I trust her."
"More than you trust me? This is my judgment, Sarek. You will obey me in this."
"Not when you have not the facts to make a proper judgment. You have refused to meet her. You do not know her."
"I will have no need to meet her, Sarek, to know a human cannot be a proper match for a Vulcan. She has not the biology, or the integrity, to meet you in the flames of Pon Far and survive. Nor will I meet her. Ever.
"You refuse to honor my choice?"
"Honor her? I will not even acknowledge her. Even if you do not cause her death, this human will be the cause of my son's destruction. I will not countenance such a one in my family. I will not look upon her face. I will not suffer her presence." Her gaze darkened. "I should see her thrown off planet."
"Do that, and I will leave as well."
"Sarek. You cannot mean this."
"I do and will. I care nothing for Terra, but if you expel her from my world, then hers will become mine, as mine has become hers. She is mine and I will keep her - where I must. Where is your choice. But she is mine, T'Pau." Sarek shook his head, drawing a pace forward before halting by main force of will. "She is mine. Do not try to take her from me, even by denying her this world. I will have her. Where matters little to me. But have her, I will."
T'Pau drew herself up, eyes both wary and regretful. "I see thee have our ancient passions, my son. Be careful. It is acceptable to acknowledge them in the marriage bond. But in our line, it can be…dangerous."
"I am always …careful." Sarek eyed her. "And will continue to be so. Have no concerns on that regard."
"My concerns are more than you can conceive."
Sarek looked down. I am …one with her. As I have never been with another. Never chose to be with another. I am content."
"I am gratified that thee has found a willing consort. But, my son…even you must realize she can never be a wife."
"I do not agree."
"Then we are at an impasse."
"Mother. I ask that you reconsider. Accept her, if only on condition. She will prove her worth to you."
T'Pau shook her head.
Something died in Sarek's eyes. "She is not what you have assumed."
"I am sure she has some worth. You would not have chosen her otherwise. But that cannot make her worthy in this. She is human, Sarek. I do not – can never - trust, my only son and heir's future to the care of a human. When the Time comes-"
"I will prepare her for the Time."
"No one can prepare an outworlder for our Time. I cannot believe she will submit. She will reject you. I will lose my son."
Sarek shook his head. "She is not Vulcan. But she does …love."
"Love! It is no match for Vulcan biology. And humans are not constant in love, even toward their own."
"Hers will be. And I will prepare her. I will prepare her well. I will take no chances. Believe me on this." Sarek was …almost…begging his resolute mother.
But she shook her head. "You have already taken too many."
Sarek gave his mother one last chance. "Have you no faith in my judgment, mother? I ask – one last time - only that you trust it enough to meet her. Meet her but once. Make your own, true, assessment."
"I will not."
Sarek stiffened, his eyes stony. "Nor will I give her up. And I will not have another."
T'Pau closed her eyes. She knew her stubborn son well enough for that. "Then so be it. Keep her as consort then. Keep her in the Fortress. I will not have her in the Palace. If thee choose in future to take a Vulcan wife-"
"I will not."
'Thee are young, Sarek. Thee may think otherwise in time, when some of thy passion has been quenched. And when the Time comes upon thee, thee may not even find thyself drawn to her. The Time may require a Vulcan female to quench its flames."
"It will not." Sarek met her eyes. "In this I am quite certain. I will want only her."
"I say only this might be. And if it comes to pass, thus, I will sanction thy proper marriage."
"I am married. Sanctioned or not, I consider it proper. She will serve me in the Time, and she will serve me well, and bear your heir, T'Pau. And if you choose not to meet her, it will be your loss." They stared at each other, both inexorably opposed, both uncompromising in this. And then, Sarek drew back a pace, his face setting against the hurt within, and strode from the room.
T'Pau looked after him. "I have lost already, my son."
But he was not there to hear.
To be continued…