"We're going to try something new, Vulcan," Lintas hissed.
Ari was forced to her knees by the guards Her breath hissed out as her weight rested on her damaged knee. The Romulan guards let go of her arms and stepped back. Ari stayed there, balanced on the back of her feet, her head bowed and staring unseeing at the white floor. They must clean this room daily. There's no sign of my blood.
The floor parted in front of her and something rose out of it.
"Since you let your friend die," Lintas said, walking around the unmoving Ari, "we'll see what this does." He grabbed Ari by the back of her head and shoved her head into the plasma coolant.
Ari sat up in her bed, gasping for air. Her lungs tightened and refused to work properly. She needed to calm down. "I want you to recall a memory that you enjoyed." "Okay, T'Pure," Ari muttered. "A memory I enjoyed..." Her eyes slid closed.
A 5 year old Ari looked up at her mother. "Mommy," she said softly, a growing sense of unease filling her.
Sierra crouch down next to her daughter and cupped her face gently in her hands. "I know your nervous, Ari," she said gently. "But you have to go."
"I'm not," Ari started to protest before breaking off.
"I know, sweetie," the human mother said, setting her forehead against her daughter. "Vulcans don't get nervous. I know its hard. When I went to school for the first time I wouldn't let go of my mommy's leg. But everything will be okay, I promise."
Ari swallowed and nodded.
A small smile lifted Sierra's lips and she kissed her daughter's forehead. "I will be waiting right here for you after school, okay?"
"Okay," Ari said, nodding her head slowly. She felt her mother touch her chest briefly and felt the unease leave her.
Ari opened her eyes and released a held breath. She felt calm, relax and safe. She hadn't felt that way in a while.
Rubbing the back of her neck, Ari swung her legs over the edge of the bed and began her routine. She had agreed to go with Syrik into the city and meet with some of his classmates. She wasn't sure why she was going but Syrik had asked her to come and she said she would.
She vaguely wondered what Syrik's classmates were like as she dressed in a form fitting shirt, a looser tunic and pants. She had never made friends with her classmates while on Vulcan and only had friends for the first year of her Earth school career. Her classmates preferred to ridicule and torment her, rather than be her friend or anything remotely resembling one.
Shrugging the thoughts away before memories could rise from them, Ari completed her morning tasks and left the room, snatching up a satchel she had packed last night.
Syrik was in the dinning hall with his parents, Spark and T'Pure. A recently fed Snips was laying against the wall behind him getting his belly rubbed by Salek.
The five Vulcans looked around as Ari entered the room.
"Ko-Kai," Salek said, standing up from his crouch and walking over to the young woman. He raised his hands up to her.
Ari stooped carefully and lifted the child into her arms, balancing him on her hip. "Good morning, little brother," she said, slipping into Vulcan and resting her forehead against his.
"Ha'tha i'lu," Salek repeated.
"Ti'lu," Ari corrected gently.
"Ari," T'Pure said. "Are you sure that you should be holding him with your knee?"
"It is fine, T'Pure. I'm not that much of a cripple and he isn't that heavy."
"Your language is changing again, Ari" Spark told her.
"It does that," Ari shrugged.
"Yes," Spark said slowly, his lips twitching. "I seem to recall one instant-"
Ari's eyes locked on him. "We agreed never to mention that ever again, Spark."
"It was not-"
"Do you wish me to enlighten your brother of the events with the Orions? Or how about T'Pak?"
Spark's face flushed and then paled at the mention of Orions and his mother.
"Subject?"
"Dropped," Spark assured her, swallowing slightly.
"I love these little conversations, cousin," Ari grinning viciously.
"That makes one of us," Spark muttered, stirring his breakfast.
Sevok was looking at his little brother with a raised eyebrow. "Orions?"
Spark stood up and left the room as quickly as he could without running.
Sevok looked at Ari, his eyebrow still raised.
"Your brother was dragged into all sorts of situations he'd rather forget while on Earth with me," Ari told him plainly.
"I am sure, but Orions?"
Ari smiled sweetly. "So long as Spark keeps his mouth shut I'm going to keep mine closed as well." She set Salek down as Snik entered.
"Which story did you threaten him with this time, Ari," Snik asked setting a bowl of fruits in front of her as she sat down.
"The Orions," Ari said. "Mmm, I hope Shuhan is watering my plant," she muttered to herself.
"Ah."
"Snik knows the Orions story," T'Peri said, raising an eyebrow as well.
"Snik knows all the stories," Ari told her, glancing at the fruits. Snik had cut them up, no doubt to force her to use a fork. "But he is sworn to secrecy on all of them."
"They swore you to secrecy," Sevok asked Snik.
"No, just Ari," Snik told him, "and she did it when she was five."
Sevok and the two Vulcan women stared at Snik.
"It is impossible to have a disagreement with Ari for every long," Snik said simply. "I suggest if you find yourself in one end it as soon as possible."
"You're over exaggerating," Ari said, rolling her eyes as she turned her fork into a fruit kabob.
"No," Snik said as he walked away. "I'm not." With that he left the room.
Ari watched him go as she chewed on the fruit and ignored the look her eldest cousin was giving her. "Where is it we're going exactly," she asked Syrik as she picked at the fruit with her fork.
"The construction on the natural museum has been completed," he said, looking up from his bowl. "School children are allowed in free of charge today."
"So I'll have to pay," Ari mused, picking out a few strawberries.
"You seem to be forgetting how old you are, Ari," Sevok said. "You're 16. Even though you have been in college for 4 years, you are still a school aged."
Ari looked at him for a moment. "So, I am."
"It is possible that you will see some of your old classmates as well," Syrik said to Ari. "Many instructors made the visit mandatory for their levels."
Ari looked at her bowl of fruit, her appetite suddenly gone. "I hope not," she muttered under her breath.
"Why not," Syrik said, hearing her perfectly. He was confused to why she would not wish to see the others that she spent her early school years with. He had been confused a lot the last 5 days.
Ari rested her head on the back of her hand. "I did not leave my classmates with anything remotely resembling dignity... and I was covered in blood." She stabbed a piece of fruit.
Syrik stared at her and then at his father.
Sevok looked at his son. "You will find, Syrik, that Ari does not follow certain Vulcan ideas, violence being one of them."
"You make it sound like I enjoy violence, Sevok," Ari said.
Sevok looked at her, raising an eyebrow. "You don't?"
"No," Ari said. She paused. "A little, but I only use it in defense."
"Of course," Sevok said, his lips twitching. "Before of which you used verbal battles and insults to cause someone to strike out at you."
"Spark's told you about that, did he," Ari said, stabbing at the last pieces of fruit.
"He did."
"Hm," Ari mused, sucking the sweet juice left over on her fork. "Are you ready, Syrik?"
Syrik put down his spoon, nodding.
"Great. Let's go."
"Snik is driving you," T'Peri asked.
"No, I am," Ari said, as she stood.
"Are you sure that is wise," T'Peri said carefully.
"It will be fine, T'Peri," Ari said calmly. "I would not endanger Syrik."
T'Peri studied Ari carefully before nodding.
Ari returned the nod. She understood T'Peri's reaction. Syrik was her first and only child and, though Vulcans claim that they do not allow emotions to control them, she was naturally protective over him. Mothers were like that. "Come on, Syrik."
Syrik trotted to his cousin's side. The two left the room and headed outside through the front doors. A car sat in the drive, looking sleek, dark and familiar.
Ari studied the car carefully and chuckled, one eyebrow raised. "It seems my father had my car brought here from Earth," she said offhandedly, stepping around to the drivers side.
"This is yours," Syrik said as he approached the passenger side.
"My father believed having my own would prevent a habit I had gotten into," Ari told him, sliding her cane into the back seat.
Syrik opened his mouth to ask about the habit she had gotten into but stopped when he felt something bumped into his elbow. "No, Snips," he said to the sehlat, who had been following them silently. "You can't come with us."
Snips nudged his ribs with his nose and looked at door to the back seat expectantly.
"No, you can't go! Go play with Salek."
Snips looked at him and snorted. He sat down stubbornly.
"Snips," Ari snapped. "Vado Salek!"
Snips looked at her reproachfully but he stood and walked back inside.
"Remember the tone, Syrik," she said sliding into her seat.
Syrik "sighed" and slid into the passenger seat.
Ari started the car and paused to fiddle with the stereo system.
Syrik watched her with interest as the sound of a guitar filled the car followed by a male voice singing 5.13 seconds later.
"Here I stand, helpless and left for dead," Ari sang softly along with the male, as she pulled out of the drive.
"Ari," Syrik said a slight question in his voice as the tempo of the song increased. The volume was quiet high and the sound waves vibrated in his chest. It was a strange feeling but not an unpleasant one.
"Dance with the Devil," Ari said, "Breaking Benjamin. Recorded March - May 2006 at The Barbershop Studios, Hopatcong, New Jersey, Earth. Released August 2006."
"You listen to Earth 21st century music?"
Ari nodded. "The city layout is the same as the original, correct?"
"Yes, the architects built it as close as they could to the landscape of the planet."
Ari nodded again, humming slightly to the song. She flipped a small switch on the console and the car's wheels were covered and the anti-gravity plates activated. With a practiced ease she turned onto the sky-way and followed it towards the museum. The way was permanently imprinted onto her mind from her many childhood visits.
Syrik settled in his chair and considered the song. "I do not understand the meaning of this song. Who is the male talking to and why does he tell the person to say goodbye when it seems that they will be going to the same place?"
"There are many meanings that people have derived from the lyrics," Ari said. "Most think that he is speaking to a woman he loves or a lover of some kind. Others think he may be speaking to someone close to death. It is possible that the song is about joint suicide or it may be about war. The only one who truly knows what the song is about is the one who wrote it."
"This Benjamin?"
Ari chuckled. "Breaking Benjamin is the name of the band, Syrik, not the name of any individual and they did not write it, or at least I do not think they did. I could never locate the writer in my research. There are simply too many things called Dance With the Devil from that part of Earth's history."
"Oh." The song changed. Another male started with a drum behind him. "What-" he started.
"Syrik," Ari interrupted. "Just listen to the song and draw your own thoughts on it."
Syrik fell silent for a moment then looked at his cousin. "Can you tell me the title?"
"Cold," Ari said, with a tiny smile on her lips. "Its by Crossfade."
"I see," Syrik said, looking forward. This song had a higher tempo then the last on, causing a greater vibration in his chest. He supposed that the tempo was meant to cause an increase in human heart rates while they listened. But his heart beat was much fast then humans so it did nothing except cause the vibrating sensation. He supposed that was why Ari listened to this kind of music at such a volume. To get the vibration in the chest cavity.
Ari glanced at Syrik as he listened to the music. He seemed to be enjoying it. She smiled slightly. "Never meant to be so cold," she sang softly.
She pulled towards the exit for the museum.
The Vulcan Natural History Museum was a massive structure made of dark stones. Though much if not all of the displays and relics from the original were destroyed with the planet Vulcan, the new museum was much larger then its mother. The architects, Ari supposed, had decided to plan further ahead. She had read an article 4 years ago that the original VNHM was begin built upon to allow more exhibits.
She reactivated the wheels and pulled into the parking lot. As she searched for a place the song changed again. This time the song was not one of Earth origin but Vulcan. 3 lutes played a gentle tune, each one slightly different. After 10.4 seconds a woman's voice began to sing.
Ari spotted a place and pulled in. She cut off the engine, bringing an abrupt end to the song.
Syrik was looking at Ari with a slightly raised eyebrow.
"I always get that look," Ari chuckled. "Is it truly that surprising that I listen to both old Earth rock and Vulcan classical music?"
"I suppose not," Syrik said. "But they are very different."
"That they are," Ari said, picking up her cane and bag from the back seat and climbed out of the car. "But that is the story of my birth." She rested her arm and chin on top the car as Syrik climbed out. "It is really too bad you never got to meet my mom."
Syrik looked at her, noticing a strange look on her face.
"Oh, well," Ari said after a moment, sliding her keys into her pocket and starting towards the museum. "Where did your classmates agree to meet," she asked as Syrik came to her side.
"There is a small cafe just inside," Syrik said. "We will meet my classmates and instructor there."
Ari nodded. She could see many groups of young Vulcans around the entrance. They seemed to be older then Syrik, teenagers, but Ari didn't recognize any of them.
"Syrik," a high female voice called as they entered the museum.
Syrik and Ari looked around and saw a young woman approaching them. She was near Syrik's age.
"T'Pye," Syrik said holding out his two fingers to the girl.
"You are late," T'Pye said, touching her fingers to his briefly.
"I had to wait for my cousin," Syrik said, placing his hands behind his back.
T"Pye looked up at Ari, who had been watching the scene before her with a carefully guarded look. "Live long and prosper, cousin of Syrik," she said to Ari holding up her hand.
"Peace and long life, T'Pye," Ari responded. "My apologizes for our lateness, I had not known of its urgency."
A very slight flush crept into T'Pye's face. "There is no need, I was unaware that Syrik had any cousins that still in basic schooling."
"He does not," Ari said, fighting the urge to smile at her. "I am Ari. Come let us join your classmates before we become much later."
Syrik was once again amazed by Ari's ability to cause a physical reaction in others. He had never seen T'Pye loose even the smallest bit of control before but Ari's words caused her to blush as small as it had been. He walked at T'Pye's side towards the agreed meeting place, Ari trailing behind them.
(a/n all dialog from now till I say again will be in Vulcan and italicized words will be in English or other languages as specified. ^_^)
"I located Syrik, Savensu," T'Pye said as they approached a group of 23 children Syrik's age and an adult male. (a/n Savensu means teacher)
The man looked around as the three approached. "Syrik-kan," he said with a nod.
"My apologizes for being late, Savensu," Syrik said.
"There is no need to apologize," the teacher said to him. He looked passed Syrik to Ari, who stood just behind the two 13 year old.
Ari simply inclined her head to him.
"This is my cousin, Ari," Syrik said.
Savensu inclined his head to Ari. "You should find your instructor," he told her. "They should be outside."
"I doubt that. I have not been in basic schooling for 4 years."
Syrik's classmates and the teacher looked at her.
Ari raised an eyebrow ever so slightly.
Savensu inclined his head. "Very well. You may stay with us as long as you wish."
Ari inclined her head as well. "Thank you."
Savensu turned his back to Ari and spoke with his students.
Ari's attention wandered away from the even toned teacher and to the other groups. There was a group of first year students not far away, all gathered close to their teachers. As she watched a mother walked up to the group a small girl with her. Just before reaching the group the mother stopped the child and crouched before her.
Ari suddenly saw her own mother doing the same to her, the expressions different but the feeling was there. The feeling of unspoken support, something that does not translate into an emotion. She looked away with a slight tightness in her chest and slid her gaze to the group of older students entering the museum.
These were 11th years. Since they were 15 and capable of controlling themselves, their instructors were not hovering over them as the lower years were. Instead the adolescent Vulcans formed their own groups of 2s, 3s, and 4s and parted from the others to different sections of the museum.
While Ari had been watching the other students, Syrik's class had received the layout of their day and was getting ready to leave, forming into two lines. Syrik and T'Pye stood at the end of the lines and Ari hovered behind them. Savensu walked the line once, taking a head count and memorizing who was with who and where.
Satisfied with with what he saw he returned to the front of the lines and lead the way into the museum.
Ari followed the group idly, listening to him talk about the museum itself and the importance of keeping the history of Vulcans ancient passed known as well as touching upon the ways and historys of other cultures.
"As I am sure Ari can tell you," he continued, a slight change in his voice when he said her name, "the study of other cultures will assist in your interaction with that culture." He glanced back at Ari.
Ari inclined her head to him. "Yes it is extremely helpful to know ways of a culture, not to mention life saving in some cases."
"What do you mean, osu," one child asked her.
"The first one that comes to mind is the Klingon culture. Unlike Vulcans, who avoid violence whenever possible, Klingons will fight each other little things."
"But Klingons are not part of the Federation," another pointed out. "So why would we need to worry ourselves with their culture?"
Ari looked at the child, an eyebrow slightly raised. "Do you know what field you wish to enter?"
"I wish to study plant life on recently discovered planets," the child said.
"What if a Klingon research party comes to, or is already on, the same planet that you are on to study it? What will you do if they come? How will you know the appropriate way to address the leader? Or if it they consider it insulting to address the leader directly? If they offer you food, is the dish one they consider insulting or respectful? How do you refuse or offer help without damaging pride? Do you know any of these answers, kan?
The child shook his head.
"Then an encounter with Klingons could prove fatal in your case." She glanced over the other students, noting that she had all of their attention and interest. "Always assume that you may meet another culture. In today's time we come into contact with too many peoples to be ignorant of anyone's way. I took part in first contact with a people who value greetings and partings so much that if unable to greet a person they became emotionally distressed."
"How did they greet each other," a third asked curious.
Ari tilted her head slightly at the child. "The younger people would kiss. I never learned what the other ages did."
21 heads looked around at her with Vulcan bafflement.
"Fascinating," the child said with some interest.
Ari smiled slightly at her, a shadow of a smile.
"Here is our first study," Savensu said causing his students to turn back to him. "We have been over how after the Great Awakening a select number decided to leave Vulcan to create their own world separate from ours."
Ari, who had still been studying the 3rd child, looked up at the entrance of the exhibit. She felt her body go cold and she halted in her tracks. The exhibit was of Romulans.
The class continued on for a few moments then a few, Syrik and T'Pye included, paused when they no longer heard Ari's cane and looked around.
"Ari," Syrik said, noting a strange expression on his cousin face.
Ari blinked and looked at him. "I will join you later, Syrik," she told him, keeping her voice light and calm. "There is something I wish to look into."
Syrik studied her for a moment before nodding. "Very well. I will com you when we leave this exhibit."
Ari nodded and walked away as the 8th year class entered the Romulan exhibit. As she walked she took a deep breath and let it out slowly. With the Romulans haunting her dreams, she did not believe she could stand near replicas and not have a panic attack from it. Which was the last thing she wished to do surrounded by Vulcans.
Walking steadily away from her fears, Ari allowed her feet to carry her. Directed by her subconscious and inner desire for comfort, Ari entered the art gallery.
The art gallery, unlike the rest of the museum exhibits was not occupied by a class of students. Though Vulcans did partake in art and music it was not something one studied in school until the 13th year of schooling though it was touched upon in the 1st year but more as a form of exercise then study. If a young Vulcan learned to play an instrument or was antiquate in art, they were taught out side of school, most likely by a parent. So the gallery held only 2 Vulcans, about a year or so older then Ari, studying a sculpture of Orion origin.
Ari glanced at the sculpture. She thought it was suppose to be a depiction of a Orion slave girl and her master but did not go into farther study. She inclined her head to the older students when they looked around at her and took a seat on a bench, propping her cane on one side.
The older Vulcans returned to their study of the gallery.
Ari draped her bag next to her on the bench and rubbed at her knee.
After a few minutes the two older Vulcans went deeper into the gallery, leaving Ari alone in the entrance hall.
Ari sighed and pulled out a sketch book. Flipping open to an empty page she began to draw.
Outside the art gallery, a group of 3 Vulcan students walked past the opening. One young man glanced sideways at the gallery and paused. He studied the young female about his age sitting cross legged on a bench in the center of the room and seemed to be writing or drawing on something in her lap.
Her short hair had fallen into her face and as he watched, she brushed it out of her face, turning her head slightly as she did. She looked very familiar to him.
Sivok told his classmates that he would join them later and waited until they disappeared. Neither of them seemed to noticed the young woman inside. He looked back at the young woman, focusing on her. He knew her, he knew he did.
She shifted on the bench. After a moment, she uncrossed her legs and slid off the bench, stretching out one leg and resting the book on her knee. As she moved the light caught her hair, revealing a slight moron tint to her dark hair.
The new information clicked in Sivok mind. He entered the gallery, walking up to her. He paused just beside her and took a deep breath. "Ari?"
Ari had heard the footsteps coming into the gallery but paid the person no heed, not even when his shadow fell over her. Then he called her by name. She looked up at the young man.
Sivok could see in her eyes that she did not recognize him. Her eyes had always been the most human thing about her.
"I know," Ari said evenly, "that you are one of my old classmates." She planted her left hand on the bench and pushed herself back up on the bench. "But I do not know which one you are."
"I am Sivok," he said, raising an eyebrow slightly.
"Sivok," she repeated, her eyes sliding to the upper left side. "Ah yes, I remember you. It has been a while."
"8.45 years," Sivok said.
Ari raised an eyebrow. "Have you been keeping count, Sivok?"
Sivok blinked. "No. I simply recall the last time I saw you with a perfect clarity. The calculation from then to now did not take any concentrate amount of time."
"Ah," Ari said, looking away. She also remembered that day with mostly perfect clarity.
Sivok was taken aback by the change in Ari at the mention of the last day he and the class had see her. She seemed... emotional. "What do you have there," he asked, indicating the book of white paper.
Ari turned the book in her hand slightly. "Sketch book," she said simply.
Sivok held out his hand. "May I?"
Ari extended the book and placed it in his hand, careful not to allow her hand to touch his.
Sivok took the book and looked at the page she had been working on.
It was a Vulcan child looking up at someone standing next to her. The adult was incomplete and faded off the page. He could see that once the drawing was complete the adult would remain faceless while the child would be detailed. He flipped back the pages. Each page held at least a partly completed picture. Most seemed to be of humans in Star Fleet uniforms. One young woman repeated over several times, sometimes alone, other times with other humans. Towards the front of the book were drawings of a campus of some sort and of seemingly random humans.
"You are very good," Sivok commented.
"Thank you," Ari said.
"What caused you to being working in art," he asked, holding out the book.
"When I went to Earth, the school councilor in charge of my... integration to Earth's society believed that taking a class that allowed one to express what one was thinking would be beneficial."
"Was it?"
"I am not sure. But it was the only class were my classmates did not glare at me for answering a question correctly." She replaced the sketch book and picked up her cane.
"I see." He watched her pick up a cane and rise to her feet, leaning on the replicated wood and false leather. "May I inquire to what happen to your leg?"
"I broke it about a month ago," she said, pulling the satchel over her shoulder.
"It did not heal properly," he said, his eyebrows drawing together slightly.
"An alien bacteria of some kind got into it shortly after the break. It has prevented my knee from healing properly. The break itself has healed, but the cap will not mend to the rest as it should."
"I see," Sivok said again. "There is not an antibody that can fight it?"
"If there is," Ari said, "then no one knows it. It is my understanding that the Science Academy has samples of it that is being studied but I have not heard anything of yet."
"That is... regrettable. I recall that you would often rock climb when we were young."
"I still do," Ari said. "Though my doctor made me promise not to climb higher than 5 meters." Her fingers brushed her still slightly bruised ear as she spoke.
"It does not cause your knee pain to climb," Sivok asked eying her stance.
"It does," Ari said, shifting her weight. "But I find climbing calming and well worth the pain. Do you not have an assignment to complete?"
"No," Sivok said, noticing her sudden change of the subject. "My instructor did not give one. I am here simply to see how the museum has changed. Do you have one?"
"I have not been in basic schooling for over 4.34 years."
Sivok's eyebrows rose with surprise. "Truly?"
Ari nodded. "I have also taken 4 years of study at the University my father teaches at on Earth."
Sivok realized that the two of them had started walking. "What have you been doing since then?"
"I have been on board the star ship Enterprise, as the assistant to the head Science officer."
"How is it that you came to the position," Sivok asked, personally impressed by her achievements.
"My father apparently requested it. He seemed to believe that space was a safer place." Ari glanced around her. They had entered the Space Ships and Ari spotted a two gold uniforms by something called Navigation Through History.
Sivok followed Ari's gaze. "Do you know those humans?"
"Yes. They are the helmsman and navigational officer of the Enterprise."
"I see," he said and followed Ari as she continued on without a second glance at the humans.
They continued on and entered the Ancient Vulcan exhibit. Here the surviving artist works of the Vulcans prior to the Great Awakening that survived the destruction of their planet were displayed. Most of the work was donated from private collections to the Museum.
Inside Ari spotted a blue and red uniform.
Spock glanced over at her. He lightly touched Uhura's arm and nodded towards Ari.
Uhura looked around at her and smiled gently. She then touched Spock's arm and the two walked away.
"Ari," Sivok said softly, drawing her attention back to him. He was staring at a collection of figures on a small display case. "I wish to apologize for my behavior when we were in school together."
Ari frowned slightly. "You have nothing to apologize for, Sivok. As I recall you never partook in the antics of the other to force an emotion from me."
"Nor did I do anything to prevent or stop them from doing so, even though I knew what they were doing was wrong. I should not have stood by as I had."
"Shoulda, coulda, woulda, but didn't," Ari muttered with a slight smile.
Sivok frowned slightly. "I am afraid I do not understand."
"It is an old Earth saying," Ari explained. "It is said when someone has reflected on something in the past that they did not do. To break it down: You should have done something, you could have done something, you would have done something but you did not."
"That does seem to fit the situation," Sivok said. "Never the less I am asking forgiveness."
"You do not need to, Sivok. Though our classmates verbally abused me to attempt to rise an emotion from me, it remained verbal. I hold no strife towards them and least of all you."
Sivok looked down and glanced sideways at her. "Including Spirk?"
Ari's muscles tensed at the name.
The tightening muscles did not go unnoticed by Sivok. "You have not forgiven him," he said softly.
"No," Ari said firmly. "I have not, nor do I think I will ever."
"But he is your koon-tu," Sivok said, his eyebrows coming together slightly.
"We may have been bonded at the age of 7, Sivok," Ari said. "But I have no intention of becoming his wife. I never have, even before the Telan t'Kanlar."
Sivok stared at her. "I do not understand."
"I do not expect you to," Ari said, closing her eyes. "Though I attempted to act as if I had no emotions back then, Sivok, I am actually very emotional. I do not like Spirk nor will I ever after what he did that day."
Sivok looked at her in surprise but before he could say anything a blonde human in a gold uniform crashed into Ari's back.
"There you are," Kirk laughed, lifting Ari off the ground in a massive bear hug. "I've been looking all over this place for you!"
"Kirk," Ari said, feeling rather annoyed and embarrassed by his actions. "Kindly put me down. You are making a scene."
Kirk glanced around and saw that everyone was looking at them. Across the room Spock and Uhura were looking at him. Uhura was glaring daggers at him, much like the first time they met and when he kicked Spock out of his place as acting captain. "Sorry about that," he grinned and put her down.
Ari straightened her tunic and ran her fingers through her hair. "What are you doing here, Kirk? I have already noticed Chekov and Sulu about."
"We went by your home," he said, indicating Bones, who stood behind him and Spock, who was approaching them with Uhura, "and you weren't there. Snik told us you were here so here we are!"
"And Chekov and Sulu?"
"Haven't seen you in forever and wanted to say hi," Kirk said. "Aren't you going to introduce us to your friend?"
Ari's jaw tightened slightly. "Kirk, Bones, this is Sivok. Sivok this is Captain James Kirk of the USS Enterprise and Dr. Leonard McCoy, Chief Medical Officer."
Sivok inclined his head to the two human males.
Ari's communicator vibrated. "Excuse me," she said in both languages and stepped away. She flipped open the communicator and placed it against her ear. "Tonk'pek," she asked.
"Ari," Syrik said. "We have left the Romulan exhibit and are heading towards the Klingon exhibit. Savensu says we will break for our midday meal after that."
"Klingons, eh," Ari muttered. "I will join you there."
"I thought you might," Syrik said. "I will see you there."
Ari closed the communicator and looked around. During her short conversation with Syrik, Spock and Uhura had introduced themselves to Sivok and were now having a conversation with him. She stepped back to them. "My cousin and his class are making their way to the Klingon exhibit. I am going to join them."
"If it is alright with you," Uhura said in perfect Vulcan. "We'll join you," she indicated Spock and herself.
"It is perfectly alright with me, Uhura," Ari said with a nod.
"What's going on," Kirk said, completely lost in the conversation.
"I will see you later, Captain," Ari said and walked away Sivok at her side and Spock and Uhura following them.
"Wait, Ari," Kirk said in something like a whine, following them. "Don't be like that! If this is about the hug I'm sorry! I won't do it again, I swear!"
"Don't make promises you can't keep, Jim," Bones said amused as he followed his friend.
Ari smiled softly.
A/n I am SO sorry its been so long! I'm trying to give y'all something longer to read and give you glimpses into Ari's background... Let me know your thoughts! ^_^