A/N - This is not an action-packed chapter, more of a set-up for the next couple of chapters. Bear with me.
Do Tell
"The identity of the third Terran female known to be married to a Vulcan has finally been obtained. Her name? Maya Toussaint. All that is known is that she attends the University of Cairo," began the news editorial. "Her whereabouts are largely unknown since the university refuses to divulge information on its students, but it is suspected that she has permanent residence at the Vulcan embassy. During the young lady's stay on Vulcan, apparently, Ambassador Sarek took the young female from a house of no mention into his home as a so-called 'daughter'. It begs the question, why is Ambassador Sarek seemingly stockpiling Terran females? Does this situation have any connection to Hannah Cassandra Demetus' death? And what of Ms. Demetus' death and its direct causes? Was the initial ruling by the Vulcan hospital's coroner accurate or a deep-seated cover-up? At least that piece of the puzzle will be revealed soon since the Office on Terran Affairs will be making that ruling very shortly.
"As to the fate of Ms. Toussaint, time will only tell. The identity of her husband has still remained largely a secret. It is only known that he is a relative of the Ambassador currently not in residence here on Terra Prime. Two separate homes? If there was ever a situation that screamed 'marriage of convenience', this one definitely does. In the meantime, the Terran world will wait and watch to see the outcome of another one of these very unfortunate marriages."
Maya stood and watched the news report on a street corner in Cairo as it played from one of the overhead floating Broadcast Stations. She found herself stuck in place as her picture flashed up on the screen during the report. As she looked up and shook her head in disbelief, she crossed her arms over her chest in disgust and was grateful for her decision to wear a hijab to cover her head when she ventured into the streets of Cairo. She decided maybe it was time now to begin availing herself of the old style of placing a niqab over her mouth and lips to shield her identity from the world around her. At least in Cairo no one would look sideways at her for doing this. But she had no idea what was about to unfold back at the embassy once that news report aired.
####
"You are no longer to take the transporter from the embassy to the space station," were the first words out of Sarek's mouth. Maya had been summoned to his office as soon as she arrived home. Amanda was standing next to her husband.
"He's kidding, right?" asked the student of her friend.
Amanda shook her head. "No, Maya, he's not kidding and you know he isn't."
"Just because of a bad news report?" asked Maya, slightly exasperated and clearly upset. She had to finish her education, didn't she? How she was going to do that without the use of the transporters? She was almost on the verge of panic. But Maya tried to do what it was T'Niye had been teaching her. Instead of allowing herself to become emotional, she forced her facial muscles to relax as she took a deep breath in and out. She slowed her heartbeat and put her mind to questioning her way around the problem until a solution was found. "I still have to attend school. How am I going to get there without beaming up to the space station?"
"You will go via shuttlecraft," answered Sarek.
Amanda was the one that shouted, "Shuttlecraft? Sarek, do you know how long that's going to take?"
"Not unless I transport directly to the United African Embassy and then use one of their shuttles to get to school," Maya supplied. "And if they don't like that, can't we dock one of our shuttles there for my usage every day? You two have cordial relations from what I remember."
Sarek's eyebrow rose. "By using the embassy transporter and transporting directly to the United African Continent's embassy and availing yourself of one of their shuttles or simply docking one of ours there permanently, the trip to Cairo would be cut to less than twenty minutes."
Though having not become upset before, Maya couldn't suppress her reaction to finding a solution to Sarek's cut and dried decision. A very Terran wide grin appeared on her face along with the waggling up and down of her eyebrows as she succumbed to a slight hopping motion of excitement in her chair.
Sarek had only to say once in warning, "Maya."
The fidgeting stopped as the grin instantly ended, but just barely. "Sorry." But for some reason an inner hilarity was rising in her chest.
"That is better. Have you meditated today?" he asked.
"No," she admitted.
"That fact is obvious."
Maya felt as if she were about to burst into true laughter as Sarek's dissatisfaction at her behavior became more apparent. So she stood quickly and said, "I'll go do that right now."
As soon as she was gone, Amanda looked at Sarek with an icy expression on her face and asked, "What was that?"
"I do not understand. To what do you refer?"
"I understand Spock. But now you're telling Maya how to behave?" she asked.
"I have been asked by T'Niye to make certain Maya learns to control her emotions and meditate on a daily basis. So have Shin and Master Sytrar. We are taking our responsibilities quite seriously."
"She's not a Vulcan, Sarek!"
"If she wishes to not accidentally kill again, she must learn to control herself to the fullest extent, positive as well as negative emotions."
"So this is T'Niye's doing?"
"Amanda, you seem to forget, Maya has made an agreement with the clan mother and is fully participating in her emotional overhaul."
She shook her head. "The way you reprimanded her, it just sounded like you were speaking to a child and not an adult, that's all."
He was taken aback. "In your opinion, I did not respect Maya's adulthood?"
"No!"
His eyebrow rose. "She did not protest my tone. In fact she seemed to heed it."
"Well, she-" Amanda floundered. "You don't understand how she sees you. You're like this father she never had."
He understood, but his point of view was still unchanged. "Then it is only that much better that I be of the few that oversees her development."
Amanda just huffed, "Ugghh!" and walked out of his office.
###
At first when Maya began using the new route to school the press had a hard time tracking her movements. Not only had she picked up a new route, but Sarek had added an additional two guards to her detail. At first, she hated it. But Sokam, from afar, encouraged his wife to please take the precautions and she relented.
Since the University had its own set of detection systems, Maya was only allowed to take one guard in with her each day. That was either Shin or Sherin. They usually alternated duties. Both men were serious about their charge. And they both detected a problem they did not like.
"Hello, Maya," said a voice.
She turned to see Vic Smythe standing at her elbow. "Hey, how are you doing?" she asked. Class had just been dismissed and the students were trying to make their way out of the theater-style lecture hall while Maya was still seated, packing up her bag. She was in no hurry to go anywhere since she still had one more class that didn't start for over an hour.
"I was just wondering if you were aware, we have been partnered up by our teacher for assignments. I thought perhaps you wouldn't mind going out for coffee sometime soon to discuss our study arrangements?"
She hadn't expected to hear that at all. "Haven't you seen the news reports about me?" she asked with a tiny grin.
"Well you can't believe everything you hear," he laughed. "So maybe you and I could, you know?"
She had known Vic for years and knew what his angle was. "No, you can't believe everything you hear. But they are right about one thing. I am married."
He shrugged. "I didn't say 'want to go and skinny dip in the nile?' Although, that would be quite foolish, what with that pesky crocodile situation."
Despite the inappropriateness of his joke, she found herself laughing. "Mr. Smythe—
"Vic. You can still call me Vic."
"- it's very nice of you to offer to take me for coffee. But with the press the way it is, even going out for coffee with a friend is dangerous right now. We should just study right here, in school, in the library if the teacher has paired us up."
He detected doubt in her voice and shrugged again. "What, no coffee? Not even for a glass of water? I suppose marriage takes away thirst of all kinds?"
She had to admit, he was still very charming even after all of these years. And his smile was still contagious. "You're evil!" she charged with a wag of her finger, falling back into their old mode of joking. "I'll tell you what. Once the press is no longer interested in my every move, you can come to coffee with me and a bunch of my friends. Get to know them. Until then, we can study in the school library."
"Thought your husband was a Vulcan," he said in his laid-back way. "So who is that chap looking in the window at me as if he'd like to throttle the brain matter from my skull?"
She looked up and over at Shin staring into the little window on the door of the room. "That's my bodyguard. If you don't back up off me a little, he'll come in here and throw you over into the teacher's pit," she said with a mischievous grin.
"Just the one guard?" he asked.
"I have more," she said as she saw the room was almost clear and grabbed her bag. She began walking up the steps as Vic followed.
"Although I do quite agree, beautiful women are precious cargo that should be protected at all times, since when does a Terran need protection from other Terrans on her own home world?"
It took all of her might to keep her mind shield in place. She wanted to know his true motives for asking these things, but the Empire's buildings sometimes had hidden psi-detectors. There was still that one well-kept secret about herself so she decided not to risk it. "You don't want to know that!" she said with a wave of her hand and a grin. She decided acting ditzy was the best way to go about this one. "That information is so boring and matter-of-fact."
"Classified?" he asked with one last smile.
"Where I'm from, I'd have to tell you you're entering the 'nunyo' zone."
"Nunyo?"
"Nunyo business," she laughed as she opened the door and walked out of the classroom.
"Shall we return to the embassy, Lady Maya?" asked Shin.
"Of course."
"Wait a minute," protested Vic as he watched her walking away. "We're supposed to study today!"
"You didn't say anything about today. You have to make an appointment with me first."
"An appointment?" he asked, outraged but still smiling. "I suppose that shows whose come up in the world, doesn't it?"
"Good-bye, Mr. Smythe!" Maya called out over her shoulder.
###
"I don't like him," said Shin as they traveled in the shuttlecraft back to the UAC embassy. Both he and Sherin sat on either side of her as her other two guards sat up front and communicated, pilot to co-pilot.
"Do you refer to the Terran with the overly familiar manner and eager smiles?" asked Sherin.
"Yes, I do," said Shin.
"Then I, too, concur. I do not care for that individual and his interest in our charge."
Maya rolled her eyes. "Guys, listen, I know it's your job to babysit me all day but-"
"Lady, you know you are much more than an assignment to us," said Shin. "And if anything happened to or with you, I think Sokam would personally rip the scrotum off of each of us."
She tried to laugh easily as if none of it bothered her, but on the inside she hated having to be followed around constantly, her every decision seemingly scrutinized not only by the press, but also now her guards, Sarek, T'Niye, the entire Vulcan embassy… An aura of negativity was threatening to swallow her and her head was starting to ache. She wanted Sokam.
You are unwell, Ashayam?
Her insides melted. Sokam…Sokam… she thought with a little too much emotion.
Has something happened, my Maya?
It's just all a little bit too much, that's all. I'll be fine. I have to go home and meditate and then I'll be fine.
She felt his pause before he asked…you have found a method that serves you?
Shin helped me figure out a Terran way that made sense to me.
That is welcome news.
What are you doing talking to me this way? Your coursework is done for now?
I am capable, it appears, of keeping our bond open for pieces of time even while I am engaged in Healer Mentor training.
So early, already? You're doing great!
I thank you, my wife. And please, though meditation is important, I ask that you also make certain you receive adequate rest. Your health is of paramount importance to me.
She closed her eyes and wanted to burst into tears. She could feel his deep concern for her, the sincerity of his words. She swallowed back her emotions and channeled them inward and back out toward him, directly to his mind. I miss you with everything I am.
A kaleidoscope of emotion from them both met and exploded. They were both briefly awash in gooseflesh causing sentiment. My Maya, my anchor, cherished above all others. Be well.
She opened her eyes and her headache was gone. She took a breath in and out and set herself to taking care of the rest of her day.
###
Amanda always seemed to call her at just the right times in her life. It was always a sign to Patricia that yes, things were as bad as they seemed. And here she was again, coincidentally calling when she needed her most.
The wife of the ambassador was shocked at the sight of her friend. Her red hair seemed lackluster and her eyes were almost dull with dark circles under them. She looked worse than exhausted. Amanda couldn't hide her concern. "Pat, what's happened?"
She tried to smile and a fake one broke through. "I'm just a wee bit exhausted," she admitted.
Amanda said, "When is the last time you saw T'Niye?"
"I'm not sick, Amanda," Patricia assured her. "I'm just stretched to my limit, that's all."
"Well what's going on?"
She tried to laugh. "Well, T'Zanne is going through a strange stage now. She's been having bad dreams about her grandfather trying to hurt her. The thing is he's only ever really hostile toward me. He's only ever said mean things to her, has never acted on it."
"What about you?" asked Amanda, afraid of what she was about to uncover.
"What about me?"
"Has he ever acted on anything against you?"
Patricia went to shrug on a smile, but instead her eyes began to water and she stifled a sob. "People taking care of elders with dementia have been going through this for centuries," was all she would say.
She had a bad feeling as she asked, "Has he hit you?"
She shrugged. "He doesn't mean to. It's no big deal."
Amanda couldn't remember the last time she became so very insenced as she did at that moment. "Dammit, Patricia, it is a big deal! He's stronger than you and it doesn't matter if he's not doing it on purpose, it shouldn't be allowed to happen!"
I guess I shouldn't tell her about the two times Soryn's hit me… "Amanda, what can I do?" she asked rhetorically with a careless wave of her hand.
"There must be some kind of program that you can take advantage of! I can't believe the Vulcans wouldn't have some kind of visiting nurse service or something! And no wonder your daughter is having nightmares, she's watching her mother get abused by her grandfather!"
"It doesn't happen every day," Patricia tried to make the excuse. "It's only…" She thought about how that sounded. "Oh my goodness, that sounds just awful!" she admitted.
"And it is awful!" Amanda said, tears collecting at the backs of her eyes. She couldn't show them to Pat, not right now. "You listen to me. I'm calling T'Niye and I'm going to find out if there are any programs available to you. You shouldn't have to be going through this alone. You deserve help."
Patricia looked at Amanda through the screen and it was then that she realized how bad things had truly gotten. "Oh my goodness…" was all she could say as the tears began to roll faster. "Oh my goodness." The knowledge crowded in on her that Amanda did not realize just how bad things had truly become.
"You hang in there," she said. "I'm going to find some way to help you!" Amanda said before she cut the subspace connection.
As soon as communications were cut, Soryn showed himself. He had been standing just outside the communications room. "Is there some reason you betray the state of our house, my wife?" he asked.
She frowned. "My friend called to speak with me and noticed that I was tired and run down. How can she not, Soryn? I look terrible!"
"Being concerned with the physical aspects of one's appearance is indulgence in the illogical trait of vanity, my wife. I ask that you not indulge in it."
She wanted to cry worse. "I didn't think of it as betrayal, Soryn. I'm just having a little bit of a hard time on my own taking care of your father and our daughter."
"Had you not have persisted in wishing to bring about the hardship on yourself of offspring, you would not be undergoing these hardships at this time," he said. "Take care. Do not betray our house again."
She only nodded. "Yes, Soryn." Deep inside, she knew she wouldn't be able to tolerate this situation for much longer. She had finally had it. Something had to give.
###
"T'Niye, she looks awful! I refuse to just sit by and watch this!" declared Lady Amanda.
The clan mother sighed. Her duties as a Healer had slowly but surely gotten less and less as she involved herself more and more in her clan's business. She only went to the hospital, by then, whenever a confounding case presented itself or whenever a hybrid pregnancy of whatever species needed her help. And then there were these females, the Terrans trying to make their way in her world. "And you say she is being abused by he who is her father-in-law?"
"She tried to downplay it, but now T'Zanne's having nightmares from it! What must that girl have seen to be having nightmares?"
T'Niye in fact had not seen Patricia for quite some time… "Yes, I quite agree. I shall see to the Lady Patricia personally."