A/N: Just a personal note. I don't know how many of you look at youtube's
Spock and Uhura's music videos. I have become enraptured with one entitled, 'Be
Still'.
Do yourself a favor, please view it. It highlights the experiences involved with Spock
and Nyota's relationship. It is beautifully edited and the singer's voice makes the
song so emotionally laden I wish I could put it on a loop and broadcast the song
throughout my house.:0)
On with the story…
The Desert Saga
Chapter Twenty-five
When the elevator stopped, the Ambassador alighted first, then his son, finally the rest of the party. A general gesture of welcome was carried out by the Ambassador who said,
"Welcome Pudor-tor K'lek (Honored, Highest Skilled) S'nass of Vulcan."
It appeared that the conversation between father and son that had been observed, was the agreement that the guest in their midst was S'nass, who had designed so many inventions to make life better for The Survivors atThe Settlement and the Embassy.
S'nass' picture had accompanied his original submission which made the recognition undeniable. The Terran female bondmate radiated her joy at seeing another Terran female paired with a Vulcan male, his Laura.
The Ambassador gestured for all to be seated and he spoke,
"Are you adjusting to life here on Terra, Pudor-tor K'lek S'nass?"
"Yes Osu Sarek, my adjustment has been accelerated by the discovery of my K'diwa, Laura Whitfield. I understand that your bondmate was also Terran."
A shadow passed briefly over the ambassador's face and he breathed deeply.
"Yes, my beloved was from this planet."
S'nas voiced, Tushah nasi-veh K'oou (I grieve with thee, expressed to a superior).
Sarek nodded.
Nyota had corralled the females and was animatingly conversing with them, bombarding them with questions, especially Laura. She advised her that there was an entire community of Vulcan/Terran pairs within the confines of San Francisco. Itappears that many Vulcan/Terran members of Star Fleet were so bonded. She communicated to Spock her desire to invite these guests to their home to meet Sirin, Rachel, Lo'vaak, Christine and Bettie and Drevi. Perhaps tomorrow, LastMeal…?
Turning toward him Nyota saw his approving nod.
Would you please do us this service that you not include what happens during this visit to the private apartments in anything written about your visit to the Embassy. That omission is in the interest of security."
Laura agreed.
The children were brought to Nyota by T'Paa, who lined them up so that they could be introduced. Laura's estimation about the offspring of Vulcan and Terran pairing was reaffirmed by the children standing before her in their beautifully decorated Vulcan robes. Each had raised their fingers in the Vulcan salute and verbalized their accepted greeting. She inquired,
"Do you also speak Standard?"
They answered in unison,
"Yes, Miss Whitfield."
The one that appeared to be the oldest continued,
"We speak Vulcan, three dialects, Romulan, two dialects, Trill, Betazoid, four languages of Terra and two dialects of USA (United States of Africa). In which do you prefer to communicate?"
She had to stop herself from hugging the last speaker and answered,
"You are speaking to a Terran with the ability to communicate in only one language, Standard. Would it be an imposition for us to use that language?"
They all nodded in the affirmative. Then the youngest said,
"Purdor Tor S'nass will teach you our language. Perhaps the next time we meet you will have learned much of it. Our parents have communicated with us in many languages since we were infants."
Laura then asked,
"What is the meaning of the title that has been given S'nass?"
The oldest again acting as spokesman said,
"The two words mean Honored, Highly Skilled and that is what your future bondmate is. We have been told that if a person describes what he wants and how he wishes it to operate that it is a great probability that it will be designed and made by him. Although, Vulcans are technically advance, his skills are far above what is considered normal for us."
Again, Laura understood that the statement is not a boast, just a statement of fact.
T'Paal had sent through the parental bond that they should come to her for their lesson. All of the children said in Standard,
"Peace and long life to you Miss Whitfield,"
They then silently departed from her presence.
James, already antsy asked Spock and Nyota,
"Are your children educated here at the Embassy?"
Spock answered,
"All of the chidren whose parents are non-Terran and Terran are educated at a special facility at Star Fleet Headquaters. They have all tested out of all regular schooling programs available to them. My bondmate, as you would say, wife, is the director of that educational facility. Our three sons, my cousin, has two son and a daughter who attend, as does our next door neighbors whose son and daughter are Betazoid/Vulcan/Terran all are students there. I am presently serving as a civilian advisor to the Star Fleet Academy. I give you this information so that you will understand our extremely inflexible schedules, but we do wish you to be our guest tomorrow at our residence. At that time, you will meet the families that I mentioned.
From the opposite side of the room came female laughter. Zane, Laura and Nyota apparently had found a common ground that they had found humorous. Spock sent is father a silent query,
"Would you be available for Last Meal at my home tomorrow?"
The reply was succinct,
''I am.'
`0`0`0`0`0`0`0`0`0`
The females were discussing a subject that is always of interest to the female of ost species,…love and marriage.
Nyota started,
"You work for the San Francisco Herald and the newspaper has been running tease anouncements now for weeks…
'What ever happen to The Surivors?'
'Have they been able to settle comfortably in their new location?'
'What has happened to the search for wives for these handsome bachelors?'
Nyota continued,
"Were you able to take any holo pics to share with your readers?"
Laura answered,
"There are some pictures of the site, persons who are named are also identified by picures. The first picture taken was of S'nass who met me at the gate and deanded that I leave my carbonated beverage outside in my parked car.
The women were give just a few details of she and S'nass' slow-building elationship. Nyota laughed and stated,
"Most Vulcan/Terran relationships are like that. The exception is the concept of love at first sight used as a reasons for a sudden attachment. My husband's attentions to me were so subtle that he should have carried a placard. Believe me, both of us were clueless, we were in the middle before either one of us knew what was going on.
Looking toward him she said to Laura, so when is the big day?"
Her answer,
"We have not decided, but it will be soon."
Zane joined in,
"I am under the impression that S'nass would marry, or bond, with Laura yesterday, if it was possible. He is completed smitten."
"So that you know, we both are…smitten, and you know how my life experiences seemed like such a thing would never happen to me."
"Yeah, I remember," was Zane's whispered reply.
Laura's smile was sort of crooked,
"He has told me that resentment, vengeance, and negative thoughts are all illogical because as he says, Kaii'dith what is, is. Accept it and move on. Such feelings, if continued would have prevented our bonding. As I have let go, it was like a burden has been lifted from my person."
Nyota added,
"The reason why they can accomplish so much is they are a forward looking people, not looking back at negatives because they contribute nothing good to a person. It was with, the destruction of Vulcan that I saw the survivors fighting with thesevering of their familiar bonds and the need to survive themselves. Come, let me show you something. Nyota advised Spock od their destination and then took the two females with her down to the embassy garden and had them stop in from of the Memorial stele and she stooped down and fingered the names. These are the Vulcan survivors who made an opposite choice. The others say they by living give voice to those who did not. It is on that premise that The Settlement was founded…a Vulcan cannot be proud or accept plaudit's but we their bondmates are proud of their tenacity, their logic, their work ethics, their never accepting defeat and the fact they are the best husbands and fathers and their devotion to us, their bondmates is limitless.
Zane sighed and said,
"Do they give classes to teach our Terran men those secrets? I will personally sign
James up. But, seriously, James only fails in comparison to the Vulcan males,
otherwise he is my darling."
After a brief view of the grounds they returned to the private apartment where the males were engaged in 'heavy' conversation. The females entered and Spock announced that T'Paal had put the children to bed in the bedrooms here at the Embassy, so they was no rush to get home to put them to bed. He and Nyota would stay in the family's apartment for the night.
Snass, James, Zane and Laura expressed appreciation for an enjoyable evening and the fact that they would seeone another the next evening. Spock had given the address and coordinates so S'nass could reach the destination without a problem.
Of course the women embraced. The men nodded and four departed.
Once entering the vehicle it suddenly dawned on S'nass that once James and Zane were dropped off at the Herald's parking lot, he would be alone with Laura, if he entered her apartment he would be sure to leave the door open asinstructed by Ka'nu.