The Cerelan Dilemma

Chapter 26

Amanda started to rise from her bed but the most awful headache gave her pause. What had happened to her neck? She could barely turn her head. As her head started to clear, she looked around and realized that she wasn't in her bedroom, and not in her home. Sarek! Remembering her last disturbing conversation with her husband, she recalled that he had told her to leave their home immediately. Tears began to well in Amanda's eyes as she realized that whatever Sarek had feared had come to pass. Where was she? Who had brought her here? Amanda decided to try and focus on a mental message to her husband. "Sarek! Sarek!" She projected fear and terror so he would realize that she might be in danger.

As she rose up from her bed and started for the door- the door opened, and she stood there face to face with her captor. "Salek," she gasped.

Salek bowed to her and replied, "Your servant, Lady Amanda."

"But why, Salek? What have I done? Why have you brought me here?" asked Amanda.

"It is not you that has done anything, T'Sai. It is your husband with whom we have quarrel. He is currently on a diplomatic mission and we are determined that it will fail. You, Lady Amanda- are the bargaining chip," replied Salek.

Amanda's head cleared and she clenched her fists at her side in fury, blue eyes flaring at Salek. Salek caught her anger and lurched forward and grabbed her arm and stated, "Displays of rage will get you nowhere, Amanda."

Amanda glared at Salek and stepped hard on his foot, wrenching away from Salek. Salek jumped away in surprise. But his superior physical strength was not quelled and he said, "Neither will displays of violence." He grabbed her by both arms this time, and Amanda was sure his grip was firm enough to leave bruises.

Amanda said, "Sarek will find me, Salek. He will find me, and if you anger him, he has the power to make sure you are outcast and your family is disgraced for generations."

Salek looked almost amused, "I realize your husband has connections in high places, Amanda- but he is not the only one. I am not alone in not wishing to see Cerelan admitted to the Federation. Our greatest enemies would thus be living in Federation Territory."

Amanda suddenly broke out into a sweat and her eyes widened in terror. Her heart was pounding in her chest and she felt something from Sarek. She sensed rage, along with something else. She put her hands to her head as if she could stop feeling horrified at Sarek's projected emotions. Finally, she collapsed. Salek had watched this scene and realized that something had happened to Amanda.

He laid her back on the bed and left the room. He had to call someone he could trust to come out here and look at Amanda. After entering in some codes, the eyes of Seral met his own on the comm. unit.

Seral said, "Salek, this is most unexpected. How may I be of service?"

"Seral," began Salek, "I must ask, are you acquainted at all with Human physiology?"

Seral raised an eyebrow in surprise at this query and replied, "I know about as much as any Healer, I have treated Humans that have lived here over the decades, particularly the Science Academy students. Most of the Humans in ShiKahr visit one of their physicians, however."

Salek thought about this for a moment, and replied, "Your knowledge should be sufficient. I require your services on my Clan's estate."

Overcome by curiosity, Seral couldn't help but asking, "Salek, who will I be examining at your estate? It is not as if you have any Human…friends, as they call them."

Realizing that he could not hide the truth from Seral, particularly once he arrived, Salek stiffened and said, "T'Sai Amanda is currently here and requires medical assistance."

Shocked and perplexed, Seral's eyebrows disappeared past his hairline, and echoed, "T'Sai Amanda? Ambassador Sarek's wife? Salek, what have you done?"

Salek was affronted by this and replied, "I have done nothing that is not necessary for the future of Vulcan and the Federation."

Seral's face was passive; however, his eyes displayed marked disapprovement as he asked, "So you have abducted the Ambassador's wife in hopes of manipulating his decision regarding the matter of Cerelan? What will happen if Skonn or T'Pau discovers your actions, Salek? You have behaved most illogically."

Salek made no pretense of hiding his emotions and he snapped, "We were all planning to take action in order to prevent Cerelan from being admitted to the Federation. If my role in this is discovered, then yours will be as well, Seral. The adepts will see to that once they use their training to question me. They will see you and the others in my mind."

Seral faltered for a moment, and said, "This was never what I had in mind, Salek. I am a Vulcan, bred to peace, and the teachings of Surak. It is because of my desire for peace that I do not wish to see a world that houses some of our greatest, most dangerous adversaries admitted to the Federation. Abducting another man's bondmate is something I cannot condone, under any circumstances."

Salek's emerald eyes were cold as he replied, "You must come out here. I will expose you in this matter if you do not. Furthermore, T'Sai Amanda is in grave need of medical attention." Salek abruptly ended the comm. call.

Seral looked at the darkened monitor. In a stunning lapse of control, he put his fingers to his temples and gently massaged them, as if in doing so, he could make this conflict disappear.