Bonded

"The time that you have selected to awaken is now." The Vulcan alarm clock system sounded. Nyota's eyes fluttered. Generally, she was not awaken by the alarm. Generally, she was already awake by the time it made its one announcement. She sat up, and looked around the room. The sun was already out. This was not supposed to be so. Usually, she was up for hours before now. She stood up and opened her blinds, to allow some of the sunlight to come in. She walked over to the intercom, pressed the button and said, "Please, bring me tea."

"Yes, Lady Uhura." A Vulcan servant responded, then asked, "Do you require sustenance, as well?"

"No, thank you. Just tea." Nyota replied. She looked out of the window and saw High Vulcan guards walking the grounds and Arev settled in the courtyard as though it were his own lounge. She smiled at the animal and it looked up at her and gave her a slight bow. She loved that wolf. She would miss him. he was wonderful with the children and Styik was extremely fond of him.

Styik had decided he would return to the ship with his family, stating, "I would not feel comfortable staying here while my family is out there, not yet. You will need me." The last statement seemed to be directed towards Nyota, and he looked right at Arev, directly after stating it. It made her wonder if the animal had revealed something to him, but she did not ask him about it.

Styik would miss Arev, she knew it, but Vulrak had promised to look after the animal. It was not that he needed looking after, but Vulrak knew that Styik would wish to know of Arev's condition from time to time. Suzak would not be coming with them aboard the ship. He would remain in Sarek's home under the care of his Vulcan relatives, where he would be able to regularly visit with his father. As Nyota looked outside, she saw that both Styik and Suzak were outside. Styik was working on his computer and Suzak was playing with some type of electronic Vulcan "toy", that Nyota herself did not fully understand how to operate.

Spock was outside, as well. She wondered what he was doing out there, and not at the Embassy, where she thought that he would be by this time. He and his father were walking and talking, and as though Spock felt her watching him from the window, he turned to look directly at her. His lips curled slightly at the corners and she gave him a bright smile back. Now, Sarek looked up at her, as well, noticing that he had lost his son's attention. Sarek's slight smile seemed even more of a smile than Spock's. Nyota waved her fingers at them, which earned her small head nods, then she left the window.

Today would be her first of three days off of work, before her family would be returning to the Enterprise, on the third day, and she intended to do a lot before getting back into a lifestyle where she could be working more hours than doing anything else, even vital things. She wondered if she would have the same type of workload now that she had two children and one of them was only one... well, about to be one.

That was another thing! She had much to do to get ready for Sytar's first birthday. She quickly rushed into the lavatory. Her mother expected her to stop by and retrieve her for a journey into New Hope, and she probably had a dozen transmissions in waiting already behind her late rise.

Nyota washed up, parted her hair down the middle, and braided her hair into two long braids. When she came from the lavatory, her tea was waiting on the nightstand. She made herself a cup of tea, but before she could take a sip, she heard Sytar calling, "Up. Up." She smiled, sighed, placed her cup down, and headed for the nursery. He laughed as soon as he saw her enter the room.

She said cheerily, "My big boy is up. Ready to get out of the crib, huh?" He nodded, happily and she picked him up from his crib. Sytar greeted her with a kiss on the lips. Every since Ashaki's awakening, Sytar had become what Nyota described as "lip friendly". Ashaki was a very kissy-face type woman and apparently, her trait rubbed off on the baby, because for the past month, or so, he had been kissing everyone that he loved and even blowing kisses at strangers.

With his tiny hands, he cupped his mother's face and said, "Pot." She nodded and placed him to stand on the floor. He tottered over to his tiny little stall and went into it to use the little potty. When he was done, he said, "Fush," to voice command the flush of the small toilet.

Nyota called out, "FL-ush," enunciating the word for him.

"Fuh-lush." He repeated and giggled at the flushing noise. "All done!" He cheered. He came running, awkwardly over to his mother, reached up for her and said, "Watch."

"Wash." She corrected, picking him up from the floor.

"Watchs." He attempted. She took him to her lavatory, to the sink and helped him wash his hands. When he finished, he announced, "All crean!"

She placed his hands underneath the blow drier and corrected, "Cl-ean."

"Cle-e-e-ean." He sang, repeating the correction.

Nyota dressed herself in a green tube top and a gray ankle length wrap around skirt, then she brushed her son's soft, wild curls back, oiling down the edges and pulled his hair into a little puff at the back of his head. She carried him outside, to the courtyard and saw Vulrak and Tirza talking. Tirza was holding a set of robes, draped over her arms, but was wearing a spaghetti strap dark green sun dress. Nyota knew that she would put the robes on before ever leaving the property, but was still shocked to see her in such an outfit. The Vulcan woman had her hair pulled into a headband and Nyota noticed that her belly looked much larger than it appeared to be when she wore robes.

"Good morning, Lady Tirza. You look beautiful, today. I like that color on you." Tirza's face flickered a bit of annoyance.

She replied, "I would not have selected such a color, nor would I have selected such a form in style, however, my temperature has risen due to my time frame of labor and Vulrak gave this particular dress to me, as a gift. Ambassador Spock found the color pleasing, therefore, I have agreed to wear it. I am soon to go to the caves for my delivery, and I am merely wearing this dress while I await my delivery party."

Nyota smiled and said, "I really wish that I could see her. I'm sure that a baby with you and Spock's genes is going to be beautiful, and I can only imagine how many males will try to secure her as a mate! Does she have a name, yet?"

"Tazar." Tirza replied.

Sytar reached for Tirza and said, "Hold." Tirza fought off a smile, something that Sytar generally caused within her, and reached for the boy.

When he was in her arms, she looked at him and said, very plainly, "It is uncertain when or if I shall see you again, therefore, I must take this time to bid you farewell, Child."

Sytar had become familiar enough with adult Vulcans saying the word "farewell" to respond with, "Bye!" He grabbed Tirza's face in his small hands and joyously kissed her on the cheek. Tirza now found herself smiling slightly. She blinked repeatedly, as she realized that she was in fact smiling, and handed the boy back to his mother.

Nyota gasped and said, "What if you have Tazar on the same day as Sytar's date of birth? That would be kind of neat. If you have her on tomorrow, she and Sytar will be exactly one year apart."

"Kind of neat?" Tirza asked, genuinely confused.

Vulrak translated, "Somewhat pleasing."

Tirza said, "It would be coincidental."

A group of Vulcan women and Ambassador Spock came walking upon them, and Nyota smiled as she gave Tirza a hug. Tirza stiffened in her embrace, and it reminded Nyota of Spock, early on into their relationship and shortly after his emotional treatment. She sighed and let go of the woman. "I will not see you again before I leave, so I hope that all is well for you, until we meet again." Nyota said.

"Live long and prosper, Lady Nyota." Tirza said, offering Nyota the traditional Vulcan salute. Ambassador Spock wrapped a hand around Tirza's lifted hand when he arrived and she looked up at him and smiled. A genuine smile, Nyota noted in her mind. Nyota smiled at him too and gave him the salute. He returned the gesture, then helped Tirza into her robes.

Nyota poked Vulrak in his side and said, "I guess now is a good time for us to leave." Vulrak looked concerned about something. Nyota now knew him all too well to let his troubled expression pass. "What's your problem?"

"I can't be sure that this is Ambassador Spock's baby. I never told you this, but Tirza and I were together in the same week that she and he married. That very well could be my child that she is carrying."

"Oh my God... does Ambassador Spock know this?"

"Of course. Tirza keeps no secrets from Ambassador Spock. She..." He whispered, "loves him." He found his voice again and said, "And he loves her, from what I have been able to see. If she has a child, her being his wife... legally the child is his child. We shall see what Tazar looks like, but they will raise her, either way. Ambassador Spock seems to think that if Tirza had been impregnated before they married that they would have sensed Tazar's presence during their bonding ceremony, but the girl would have been too small to have any stream of consciousness, yet. I certainly hope that this daughter is indeed their own, as I do not wish to see another raising my child." Vulrak sighed.

Nyota was speechless. After a while, she found words and they were: "You just never get a break, do you? So... will you at least be involved with her upbringing?"

"I will be guarding her." Vulrak said, almost tragically.

Nyota shook her head and said, "I hope that she isn't yours. That just seems like it would be too hard for you... guarding someone that you love so much, and not being able to love her the way that you really want to, because you know she officially belongs to someone else."

He smirked and said, "I am sure that I can handle such a scenario, My Lady." Nyota blushed, laughed, and said, "I'm sure you can handle whatever comes your way, Vulrak. But, for hope's sake, let's just say that she is not going to be yours, she will be Ambassador Spock's baby and whenever you have a baby, it will be with a wife who you love and you and she will raise that child and whatever others come about." Vulrak nodded, feeling slightly better that he had a chance to speak with Nyota, and the fact that he knew that he could trust her with his issue. She asked, "Have you seen my Spock?"

"He is walking the grounds, with Sarek." Vulrak answered, "They are..." He thought for a moment, tried to get a sense of where they may be, then replied, "near the courtyard."

She nodded her head and headed that towards the courtyard. When she reached them, Spock turned to see her. He walked a portion of the way to meet her and she wrapped an arm around him and kissed him on the cheek. "What are you doing still on the grounds?"

"I spent the morning removing my items from my office in the Embassy. My assignment there is complete. My father and I have merely been discussing the formations of the clones. Do you wish to see the development of them?"

"Oh, Spock, I wish that I had time today. Mama and I are supposed to be in New Hope, gathering things for Sytar's birthday party at Mama and Baba's tomorrow..." She gave him a questioning look and he said, "I shall certainly not miss one moment of it." She smiled and Sytar reached for him. Spock accepted his son and the boy kissed him on the cheek.

Nyota asked, "Can you handle watching him today, while Mama and I are gone? Styik will probably take him after he finishes meditating, but..."

"Nyota, I certainly can manage to take care of our son in your absence." Spock said, then pressed his forehead to Nyota's. "My wish is for you to have the opportunity to obtain everything that will suffice for our son's first birthday." She kissed him on the mouth, now. Then, she kissed Sytar on the lips, as well. Sytar waved a hand at her. She waved at Sarek as Spock walked back over to him.

Vulrak and she picked up her mother to go to New Hope. Ashaki had already made a list of places that she had sent transmissions to and questioned for information. She had such high expectations for Sytar's first birthday party, after all, she had missed out on most of his current existence and this was her first grandchild. Nyota glanced at Vulrak when they entered the third building on Ashaki's list and said, "I think that I am sitting the first birthday out. She has everything already situated." Vulrak simply smirked at this.

Since he had a much better memory than Nyota, and was much more familiar with the Vulcan items, he had to tell Ashaki which toys Sytar already had, and which ones that he did not. Nyota ventured towards an area of toys that Vulrak informed her, "Those would be too advanced for Sytar, but maybe more appropriate for Suzak."

Nyota grabbed a few items and said, gently, "Sytar's getting used enough to him being around that he shouldn't have a fit if we buy him some toys, too." Ashaki stared at something for a long period of time before both Nyota and Vulrak walked up behind her and stood. Nyota said, "Mama, I know that one is too advanced."

"It's for Styik." She said, "You are going to be taking the boys away with you in three days, I figured that I should give him a going away present."

"It is not advanced enough." Vulrak informed her. "Styik is far beyond most of the equipment in this place. There is something that you can get him, that I happen to know for a fact that he would desire." Vulrak led her to a counter where he exchanged words with the Vulcan standing there.

Nyota looked at her mother who tilted her head in interest at the exchange. Nyota could not tell what the two Vulcans were saying, and felt a bit ashamed, as she still held the record for being unmatched in zenolinguistics, and she was not familiar with this language, at all. When Ashaki smirked at the Vulcan behind the counter, Nyota stared at her. "Did you understand the exchange?" She asked her mother.

Ashaki nodded her head and responded, "The guy is going to take us to some merchandise that is not on the floor." The Vulcan opened the counter and Vulrak led Nyota and Ashaki behind the counter and the four of them went into another area of the place. Vulrak and the other Vulcan continued to talk, while Ashaki translated, "Apparently, this item that Styik wants is not even on the market, yet, but Vulrak is telling this Vulcan about who Styik is and why it would be beneficial to allot him this item... It is something that was recently introduced at the Innovative Inventions Convention, and it is being studied at the New Vulcan Science Academy."

Nyota tilted her head and asked, "What is it?"

"As of right now, the invention is being studied for potential dangers. The elders seem to believe that the study of it could be abused in possession of an illogical Vulcan. The inventor created it for purposes of good." Ashaki said.

They entered an all white room with a display in the center of it and a dome covering what appeared to be some type of plate. The group approached the object and Nyota whispered, "What is it?"

"It is currently called the Brain of Brains." Vulrak said. Nyota stared at it. Am I missing something? It looked like a plate to her, but the dome opened, and above the plate appeared what looked like a brain to her. "This invention is a brain database and hologram replicator. Every known Federation creature's brain is in the system of this database. It can simulate each brain's functions, each part can be identified by name, with close up images, and the effects of brain damage and other occurrences to the brain can be monitored on it. The most captivating aspect of this invention is the fact that it can exhibit the responses of the brain to Vulcan telepathy, and it was created by a child."

Nyota gasped and looked at him, "How old of a child?"

"A seven year old girl who lives in the institution." Ashaki stated. She smiled and said, "I remember her working on this. I remember Styik watching her work on it, being eager to see her finish it. She showed signs of autism from the age of two, however, Vulcans seem to have always been unable to have autism, therefore her parents believed that her issue was something else, though it has never been figured out." She covered her mouth and said, "She finally finished it."

"How can we obtain it?" Nyota asked. Vulrak looked at the Vulcan, and the Vulcan stared at Ashaki, for a while.

Then, he stated, "You were the den mother. I was led to believe that you faced irreversible damage at the hands of one of the children."

"That same child reversed the damage and he also is the child who wishes to have this invention. I know the girl who made it."

"Are you the care holder of the boy?" The Vulcan asked her. Ashaki looked at Nyota. The Vulcan did too and said, "You are?"

"Yes, my husband Spock and I are Styik's parents." Nyota responded.

The Vulcan intertwined his hands and asked, "Do you believe in fate?" Nyota stared at him, confused.

"I don't know if I believe in fate... and I don't know why you ask."

"Luxtria is autistic. No Vulcan will ever think to marry her in this condition. Perhaps your son can help her as he did the den mother." The Vulcan said.

Nyota smiled and said, "Perhaps."

Ashaki said, "Maybe this invention is not worth the price, Nyota."

Vulrak nodded and said, "I am inclined to agree."

Nyota stated, "I think that Styik would be willing to try help the girl in exchange for getting her invention."

Vulrak took Nyota by the hand and said, "I do not believe that is what he has in mind."

The Vulcan now spoke, saying, "I believe in fate. Is it not curious that your son and my daughter would be in the same facility to be healed when she began this project, and now that it is complete, it is one thing that he would desire to have? Is it not curious that your son has been tormented for his inability to control his emotions, and my daughter has been ridiculed for her inability to communicate her emotions?" Nyota's lip dropped as she finally realized what Vulrak and Ashaki apparently realized moments ago. The Vulcan kept speaking, "And that your son has the ability to heal others of conditions involving the brain in which up to this point we believed could not be healed? You think that this is just an invention that your son may have a bit of fun learning with, but what if it is something that will help your son in becoming the Vulcan he wishes to be? What if Lux can complete your son?"

"My son is complete." Nyota said. She chuckled, uneasy and said, "Look, if we can't get the invention, I understand. I am sorry that we took up your time."

"I would like to meet your son and your husband, My Lady." The Vulcan said.

Nyota took a deep breath and said, "We have no intention of promising our son to anyone."

"A meeting, please... at your convenience. I will bring Lux." The Vulcan said.

Vulrak now guided Nyota and Ashaki out of the area and he asked Nyota, "Are you going to speak to Spock about this?"

"No." She said.

"Nor Styik?" He asked.

"Nor Styik." She confirmed.

"What if he is willing?" Vulrak asked. Now, Nyota spun around and stared at him. "Styik severely wants to have that invention. What if he believes that it is worth being bonded to a girl who no one else is going to ever wish to be bonded to, who he could release later, if he wishes to do so? If I know Young Styik, I believe that he wishes to improve the invention. Give him a chance to make a decision about the girl. Have a meeting with Sovot. Speak with Spock and Styik."

She shrugged and nodded, "I guess so. Mama, where else do we need to go for Sytar's birthday things?"

Ashaki looked over her list and said, "The toy store was the last stop. Everything will be delivered to my home tomorrow. I need to go home now and begin all of the cooking. You have to speak to your husband about this issue."

Styik combed his hair straight back and put it into a small pigtail. He met Spock and Nyota downstairs and Nyota said with a smile, "Look at my little man! You look so grown up." She shook her head and mumbled, "I can not believe that this was decided upon."

"Mother, it is a perfectly logical decision which pleases everyone. With both of our histories, it is quite possible that neither of us would obtain a mate. By the time that your next five year mission aboard the Enterprise ends, I will be very close to, if not past the age of my first Pon Farr..." When Nyota made an uncomfortable face, Styik smiled slightly and said, "And as Vulrak pointed out to you, later in life, it can be undone, if the decision is not one that I still adhere to."

Spock bowed his head slightly and said, "You have made a wise decision, Son."

"I chose to be bonded to an autistic girl in order to obtain a learning toy." Styik said.

"When you say it that way, Styik, it sounds very illogical." Nyota said, trying not to laugh at the look on Spock's face.

Spock took a deep breath and said, "Styik, this decision is completely up to you. If you do not wish to bond with the girl..."

Styik said, "I have made my decision, Father. Shall we go, now?"

Lux sat in her windowsill and stared out of the window. Spock and her adopted father walked the grounds of their humble home as Nyota and the lady of the house sat in the common room, speaking. "Lux is not our daughter, but we decided to take her in after the destruction of Vulcan. She already had the signs of autism when we got her, but I think that it may have been something dealing with the fact that both of her parents being consumed on Vulcan that even caused whatever defects in her. I have never believed that this is permanent, especially when she began the work. She was only four when she began working on it. It seemed like a child just tinkering with her imagination, then it steadily became more and more impressive. We decided to try to make replicas of her original, perfecting it where we could, and entered it into the Innovative Inventions Convention. Now, so many wish to have it." Her mother said.

Nyota turned to look at the girl. She was a lovely young girl. Her skin was bronzed olive, and her eyes were jade green. She had jet black hair which she wore curled at the tips, with the top half in a ponytail and the rest hanging down, to her shoulders. The mother said, "She does not speak. I have never heard her say one word, and she does not communicate with us, at all, mentally. I am relieved that your son is an expert in reaching special cases."

"He really isn't..."

"I have faith, Lady Uhura." The woman said. Now, she looked at Lux and said, "If I did not wholeheartedly believe that he could help her, the entire ceremony would be in vain." The girl stood up and walked towards the door. "Lux, do not leave the house." Lux stopped at the door and stared at it. Styik opened the door and entered the house. Lux stared blankly ahead. Styik stood right in front of her and Nyota and Lux's mother looked at them. Styik stared at Lux for a while, then announced, "Mother, it is time for us to depart for the night." Nyota nodded and arose from the chair. She thanked the woman for having them over after the ceremony and expressed her wish to see her again the next time that they were in New Vulcan. The woman bowed slightly to Styik.

Nyota met with Styik at the door, and as he was about to follow her out, Lux grabbed his hand. He looked at it, then at her face. She smiled slightly and he returned a smile, bowed and said, "Goodnight, Luxtria." She let go of his hand and walked slowly back towards the window. She resumed her seat at the windowsill.

Styik walked out of the house and said to Nyota, "I can do it. I can fix her."

"Is that what all of this has been about? You are trying to prove yourself to yourself, again?" Nyota asked him, only slightly amused.

Styik shook his head and said, "I do not know what is wrong with her, but I will figure it out. I do not think it is a matter of autism. Her invention is a cry for help. She created it in order for someone to figure out how to help her. She obviously can not do it for herself. With all of the things that could go wrong with a brain, she has not yet been able to learn what it is that has gone wrong with hers, and the doctors do not know either..."

"You really are going to be a scholar." Nyota said as they walked upon Spock. Spock looked at both of them, then studied Styik.

He wondered how Styik now felt. Their family was quite close and shared a familial bond, and now Styik was bonded to a girl. Spock wondered if it would seriously affect the familial bond, but quickly pushed the issue from his mind. Styik further interrupted his thoughts with the statement, "I have to get the Brain of Brains home and begin my study of it, immediately."

"Styik, now that you are bonded, are you going to remain on New Vulcan when your Father and I return to the Enterprise?" Nyota wondered.

He shook his head and said, "I told you, Mother, you will need me. I have every intention of getting back on the Enterprise with my family. I wonder if Sytar is going to be jealous of Lux, now." He said, jokingly.

Nyota pulled him into a one arm embrace and the three of them: herself, Styik and Spock walked home. When they entered, Sarek was seated in the common room, alone, staring at the wall. He turned to face them when he heard the door. Spock told Nyota, "I am going to sit with my father and talk." he reached out his two fingers to her and she understood that he would not be coming to bed, soon. She touched his fingertips, nodded her head at Sarek, then took Styik by his shoulder and headed for their side of the home. Sarek was not pleased with Styik's decision. He did not believe that there was any logical reason for him to agree to being bonded to such a defected girl, and had made his thoughts known when it had been shared with him. Nyota, who had been fervently against Styik being bonded at all had gotten angry with Sarek and snapped at him for his intrusions, bringing up his participation in Styik's decision to go through his kahs'wan.

The situation became one that Spock did not wish to witness, nor be a part of. Sarek stopped speaking after Nyota's outburst, and the entire room became silent. She finally stated, "Styik, it is completely up to you, just as it was when he was in agreement with your decision." She threw Sarek a glare when she said it, and he simply intertwined his fingers and sat still. Spock lifted an eyebrow, and almost told Nyota that the anger in her tone and her expression was not necessary... but when he looked at her face again, he decided that he would do more harm than good with such a statement. Styik made the decision, and now he was bonded, no matter how illogical Sarek believed his choice of mate to be. Nyota frowned just thinking about it. Vulcan times were still hard.

Styik stopped Nyota from walking and asked, "Are you angry?" She tilted her head and he said, "I have this sense that you are. Is it because of Grandfather Sarek, earlier?"

"Styik, I do not agree with your decision, but I support you." She said.

"That is good. Because your opinion actually counts." He said.

"And your father's, I hope." She said, but he knew it was more of a question.

"That depends from day to day." He said and smiled.

"Do you feel any differently?" She asked.

"I feel a little differently, but it is a positive different. I feel as though I am not going to be alone, for a while."

"You haven't been alone for a while." She said.

He smiled at her and said, "I know."