The Cerelan Dilemma

Chapter 36

Startled by the terrible noise coming from the Ambassador's quarters, Verena and Zareth leapt from the bed and hastily began to dress. The doctor passed by a mirror and realized how she looked with her hair quite untidy from the frantic lovemaking she had shared with Zareth just shortly before the interruption. Quickly running a brush through her hair, Verena ran to get her medkit and she and Zareth exited the quarters. Both were surprised by Sonak's presence outside the door. His face was green with mortification as he faced the couple as he quite knew what they had been up to.

"Doctor," began Sonak, "Sarek's emotions are affected by everything around him. As a telepath, he can sense emotions. He sensed the….. feelings coming from you and the Liaison." Sonak looked away in an uncharacteristic breach of control and then quickly met Verena's eyes again. Almost sheepishly, the young Aide replied, "He KNEW what you were doing in your suite and it caused him to react thus."

By this time, both Verena and Zareth were positively emerald with shock and shame as they realized everyone on this ship knew what they had done privately.

Zareth's diplomatic training came back to the fore as he heard glass shattering in the Ambassador's suite. "Sonak, do you think both of us can subdue the Ambassador so Verena can administer a hypospray?"

"We can try. He is probably exhausted physically from the constant meditation since we departed for Vulcan, the extreme effort he has made to maintain control. However, from his madness he may draw a ferocity and strength that could overwhelm us both."

"We arrive at Vulcan in approximately 2 Federation hours. We have to try to subdue him before we land at the spaceport. It's a risk we must take for all of our safety."

Sonak started towards Sarek's quarters. Zareth turned to Verena and softly brushed her hair out of her face. "We will go in and leave the door open. I want you to wait outside and watch and make sure we have Sarek subdued before you come in. If for some reason, we should not be able to subdue him, I want you to go to my quarters and get the small phaser from my suitcase and then lock the door."

Sonak and Zareth steeled themselves against physical assault and rushed into the Ambassador's room. "YOU WILL NOT TAKE HER FROM ME," he roared as he ran towards the two men. Zareth met Sarek's assault and fought to subdue his arms and Sonak finally managed to grasp Sarek in a nerve pinch. The ambassador went limp and Sonak and Zareth carried him to the bed. Verena hurried inside and administer the hypospray.

The spacecraft comm. unit began to beep in the office and Sonak went to answer it. Skonn's patrician visage was unmistakably stricken with worry.

"Sonak, since you have answered this comm. link, I have logically deduced that you are on your way to Vulcan with my son. How long will it be before you arrive?"

"Ambassador, we should arrive at the Spaceport in approximately 1.92 Standard hours."

"Sonak, is my son nearby?"

"He is not, Ambassador. The doctor we brought along for aide and discretion in leaving the planet has administered him some medication to provide a temporary and tenuous measure of control. He rests now."

"Control?" The elder Vulcan's eyebrows raised in amazement.

"Yes- temporary, but the compound has made him well enough to travel."

"There is a greater matter at hand, Sonak. I do not wish for Sarek to hear this, as it will further strain his control and might cause him to sink into madness before he reaches Vulcan. T'Sai Amanda has been abducted."

"Who would do this, Ambassador?"

"A member of my staff who has turned extremist in his policies, with an eye towards my son's bondmate is the culprit. He has agreed to bring T'Sai Amanda to spare her life but he is not stable mentally. I will await you at the Spaceport with transporter clearance immediately to our Ancestral Marriage Grounds, Sonak."

"Live long and prosper, Ambassador."

Sonak realized that Sarek must already know what had happened, that was what had brought him into his Time so quickly, and without warning.