A Pearl of Great Price

Chapter Thirty-six - New Vulcan - Meeting People

New Vulcan

Late December 2263

Durra

She was very curious. Selek was taking her to meet people today. First they would have lunch with Sarek. She did remember him from Nyota and Spock's wedding, but she had not actually spoken to him, so this would be their first real meeting. And then after that, they were going to the primary school, to meet the teachers there and discuss educational matters. And after that, they were going to the social center for an evening, to see what went on there. It would be a full day, and she knew she would be tired at the end, but it was exciting, too.

She finished unpacking her luggage, hanging her clothing in the empty side of the closet in the bedroom. There were also empty drawers in the dresser, for her underwear and other things that she did not want to hang up. Selek seemed to have anticipated everything she would need. She was not used to this, but it was very nice.

She took the packet of small items that she had brought for the kitchen and carried them there, putting the small bottles of spices in the cupboard, and the hand-carved wooden utensils in the drawers, along with the ones that Selek already had. It made her happy to see her things there, mixed in with his. It seemed - permanent. She made a happy little sound before turning back to the bedroom, to retrieve the last part of what she had brought with her.

Back to the living area she went, carrying those things. Small carvings from wood and stone she placed here and there around the room, on the small tables where the lamps sat, on top of the bookcase, on the window sills. Intricate objects made from wire were set out next, making shiny spots here and there about the room. And there was a small wall-hanging, of woven fibers, chosen to highlight the colors in the room. She found a place on one wall that seemed perfect for it, and pressed the hanger against the wall, securing it well before she put the weight of the hanging on it. Finished, she stepped back to look around, and smiled to herself. Yes, just a few little things made it seem more like home - her home - it was going to be her home, very shortly.

Selek entered from outside, his meeting finished, and stopped, looking about. He noticed the small things she had placed about the room. The room looked different, somehow. He contemplated. Yes, it looked more inviting. It now spoke to him of her. It was very satisfactory. He crossed to where she stood and looked down at her, touching her cheek softly. "I am pleased with the changes you have made. They make our home more welcoming." She glowed up at him, supremely pleased with his choice of words.

"Our home."

"Yes. This is my wish. To have you live here with me, to have you by my side at all times. But you must spend your visit here wisely, Durra. Talking to people, learning things, being sure that you will be happy and satisfied here. I do not wish you to be unhappy." He was calm and serious, but inside, oh, inside he yearned for her to be here with him always.

"Selek, I think I could be happy with you anywhere. But I will do as you wish. I will learn all that I can."

He nodded, content. "Come, it is time to go to meet Sarek. He will have the noon meal ready for us."

She put her hand in his and they walked along the pathway to Sarek's house, only a short distance away.

At Selek's tap on the door, Sarek opened it and stood aside, welcoming them in. He led the way to the kitchen, very similar to the one in Selek's home. The table and chairs were slightly different, though, and the dishes he set upon the table were completely different from the ones Selek had. So there was variation to be had. Durra noted this. Selek pulled out one chair and held it for her, and Sarek set the hot dishes on the table. When both men were seated, Sarek began to explain the dishes to her, telling her what ingredients were in each one, and how they were cooked. He explained that these dishes were some of the favorites of his deceased wife, Amanda, and therefore he felt that she might like them as well. Some Vulcan food was so spicy that humans could not eat it in comfort.

Durra was touched by Sarek's thoughtfulness and tasted each dish carefully. Most of them she found quite tasty. She asked if she might have the recipes and Sarek and Selek conferred with each other, confirming that Selek already had most of them. Sarek would transmit the remainder to Selek's com link later. Durra thanked him, glad that she would have some native Vulcan dishes that she liked that she would be able to cook for Selek.

They sat around the table and spoke of many things. Sarek told her of the many non-Vulcans who lived and worked on New Vulcan, some of whom Selek had arranged for her to meet this evening. He spoke of the difficulties some of them had had getting used to the heat of New Vulcan, but Durra laughed and said she had grown up in Africa, and was used to the heat. Selek nodded, remembering his brief trips there.

Sarek also spoke of the differences between the world she was used to and this new world, still under development. Here people were expected to do as much for themselves as possible, and resources were still severely rationed. Durra nodded in understanding. There would certainly be no wild shopping sprees here.

When it was time for Sarek to return to his office, she thanked him for his hospitality, for the meal, and for the recipes, but mostly for sharing the things he knew she might need to know, for he had had a human wife as well. He bowed slightly over her hands, and turned to Selek, telling him that he had chosen well. She glowed and sparkled, happy with his approval. And when Selek offered her his hand when they left, she could feel his happiness as well.

***

Selek led her down the paths to the schools. Here were three schools. The primary school was for the youngest children - some as young as three or four. All the children were tested, and when they were judged ready for this learning, they were allowed to start. These schools were very different from the schools now vanished with the Vulcan homeworld. There were no learning bowls here, teachers wrote on screens in the classrooms, answering children's questions. Lessons came from computer consoles, or even from books. Some children studied some subjects together, and others alone, working at their own pace. The children moved about the school during the day, working with those who were at the same place in a particular subject. It was all new to the Vulcans, worked out as they went along, for they had lost the methods that they had used for centuries and had actively sought the help of other cultures for replacement methods, not being able to wait many years until they could begin to build new bowls to educate their children.

Durra talked extensively with the teachers there, learning much. She offered some information about the labs she conducted for the students who studied languages with her. Several of the teachers were quite interested, and asked that she return to speak with them if she had time. She readily agreed.

The next school was for older children, those who on Earth would have been said to be approaching puberty. Of course, Vulcan physiology was much different. These children worked harder, studied more difficult subjects. But they also learned many other things. They studied martial arts, for instance, something that was not normally taught in public schools on Earth. And they learned also the ancient skills, those things that now enabled the people of New Vulcan to become self-sufficient. She was very impressed.

The last school was for the oldest children, the ones preparing for the Vulcan Science Academy when it was re-established, or other equivalent schools on other planets. Some of these children even expressed an interest in attending StarFleet Academy. They were serious and quiet, calmly discussing their possible futures with her as though they were much older. She was more than a little intimidated by some of them, they were so intelligent and controlled.

When they left the school complex, she had much to think about. They walked back home, hand in hand, quiet, her thoughts moving round and round. Selek watched her, but did not disturb her thoughts.

When they sat once more in the cool kitchen, glasses of fruit juice before them, he discussed where she would like to go on following days. He had a list of things he thought she might be interested in - the gardens, the farmer's market, the section of town where the tailors and other clothing fabricators had their shops, the other retail areas, the section where there were teachers of the ancient arts, and other things of interest. She read through his list and joyfully agreed with it. Yes, these were the things she wanted to see, these were the people she wanted to talk to. He relaxed and his lips quirked up, glad he had chosen carefully with her needs in mind.

And then there was time, in the late afternoon, before it was time to prepare for the evening's activities, to retire to the bedroom again, and enjoy pleasuring each other again. Their clothing dropped to the floor quickly, and they touched each other's skin, until their moans and gasps overcame them and they sank to the bed, wrapped around each other, urgent in their desire.

***

Selek stroked the side of Durra's face softly and turned to him, a soft questioning sound humming against his neck. "Would you like a shower now, before we dress again?"

She raised her head and grinned at him. "Yes. Do show me how that wonderful shower works."

He picked her up and carried her into the bathroom and set her in the large stall, entering after her and shutting the door. He touched various controls and they were surrounded by water, cascading warmly over their bodies. And when they had cleansed each other, there was still time to taste and tease and touch and moan in ecstasy, with the warm water all about them. It was a very relaxed couple who headed down the path to the social center for the evening of talk, and games, and music.