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Special thanks to beta Notes from the Classroom

Shaken

"See, you did have fu-- an intellectually stimulating evening," Amanda said sleepily as she fell exhausted onto Sarek's shoulder.

"Yes."

Maybe he said it, maybe he thought it. Amanda wasn't sure as she slipped happily into sleep. At some point she was vaguely aware of Sarek's heat disappearing from the bed.

And then she fell into a dream of infinite sorrow. Her stomach clenched and she struggled to awake.

Sarek was in the room a few minutes later. She dreamed or saw him above her, "Do not be concerned. You and I and all of ours are safe, Amanda. Sleep." And she slipped into a dreamless sleep.

Amanda awoke at eight in the morning. She could hear Sybok thumping around in his room -- he would have been awake for over two and a half hours now. Thankfully Sarek handled the early mornings.

Slipping into some casual clothes, she blearily made her way into Sybok's room to say hello to her boys.

Looking up from a bogglingly complex tower of blocks, Sybok nodded in her direction. Sarek was sitting on the floor reading a PADD. He did not look up.

"Sarek, good morning," said Amanda.

Lifting his head, Sarek nodded at her but did not say good morning in return.

"What are you reading?" asked Amanda.

"The news," Sarek replied.

"Oh, any word on the people left behind on NTR 321?" asked Amanda.

Sarek looked at her, looked at Sybok, and spoke into her mind.

They are all dead, Amanda. The Klingons launched attacks during the night -- details are just emerging.

x x x

Amanda sat down in front of the monitor in the office. Sarek's words had shaken her like a physical blow. How could that have happened? Unarmed civilians -- even Klingons saw no honor in killing those who couldn't defend themselves...didn't they?

There just wasn't that much information on what happened on NTR 321. All that was emerging from the solar system was that the Klingon Empire and Federation were in "talks."

There were arguments for war -- the vessel that crashed had been a Federation registered passenger liner, no matter what the respective races of the passengers left behind.

And there were arguments against war -- it was all a misunderstanding, and the passengers killed by the Klingon disruptor attacks weren't really Federation citizens after all.

There was wild speculation on just what the Klingons thought they were doing attacking unarmed passengers. Most theorized that they truly believed that the passenger liner had been part of some sort of spy mission.

Flicking through the sites she came to a vid of Senator Delores Larson, part of the Earth senate's conservative faction. The Senator was standing on a podium. Inset in the frame was a picture of the Betazed man, human mother and child from the previous day's news reels.

Amanda paused her finger on the mouse and turned up the volume.

Senator Larson's voice filled the room. "...for years, out of deference to my party, there has been one issue I have voted on against my conscience, that of legalizing alien-human partnerships.

"Tignon was beloved by my daughter and grand daughter. He was a loving husband and father -- in all but name. It was Tignon's and my daughter Dorothy's greatest wish to marry. Had they been able to do so, Tignon would still be with us today. For my failure to do what was just, my daughter's family has suffered the ultimate loss.

"From now on I will vote with my conscience, no matter the political consequences. I urge other members of my party to do likewise."

The scene shifted to two news announcers. "Well, Bruce, that statement by Senator Larson was definitely unexpected. Movements to legalize alien human partnerships have been stalled for years in the Senate. Do you think Senator Larson will shake that situation up a bit?"

"Yes, Leia, there are those who believe that Senator Larson has just reignited the debate --"

x x x

"We have completed all of the necessary paperwork," said Sarek. "Should I die, all of my assets will go to you. You will legally become Sybok's guardian."

"Which we spent months and months and thousands of credits doing," said Amanda, slipping on her coat. It was a few weeks after the attack on NTR 321. Outside a misty rain was falling. The street shone like polished obsidian under the street lights. It was nearly 20:00. She was going to be late -- but she kept arguing anyway. "And you can bet, Sarek, that should you die, or should I die, that someone will step forward to contest all the arrangements we worked so hard to make legal."

Sarek said nothing. She felt his discomfort in the pit of her stomach.

Buttoning up her coat Amanda said, "Tignon and Dorothy had all those documents --"

Putting his hand behind his back Sarek said, "We are both Federation members; we will never be separated in that manner."

"No, I'm sure we won't be separated like that," said Amanda. "But there could be some other circumstances." What if Sarek had to return to Vulcan? If his extended family had him tried in Vulcan courts for endangering his child with his bond to a human, could they put him in jail?

"I would never allow it, Amanda," said Sarek and the bond hummed with conviction and sincerity. "It takes times for such a case to be brought to trial. I would have ample warning. If need be, I would never return to Vulcan."

"But that is...that is bullshit!" said Amanda. "It is your home! Your mother is there. Your former professors and colleagues --" Shaking her head angrily, Amanda composed herself. "It isn't just about you going home to Vulcan. It is about public acknowledgment that we are a legitimate couple."

She picked up her umbrella and sighed. "But don't worry. I won't tell anyone at the meeting that I'm bonded to a Vulcan." She couldn't. Sarek's unease...and the bond...both were too strong.

x x x

The morning after the Alien-Human Partnership Rights meeting, Sarek was walking through the halls of the Embassy. Amanda hadn't seen any Vulcans there. And she hadn't said anything of their bond --

"Sarek," said Josef, walking beside Trivant, a Vulcan who was an expert on Earth's patent laws. "Trivant and I were just discussing the holoscope patent. Your input would be appreciated."

Falling into step with Josef and the other Vulcan, Sarek turned his mind to what Josef was saying. "But if it's patented," said Josef, "we can share the technology for the holoscopes without fear that any human firms will manufacture them for sale. We'd get the added benefit that human firms would create associated applications that would make the holoscopes easier to use and therefore more desirable."

"But if Vulcans were to make these applications," Trivant said, "we would keep the technology secret and generate more revenues."

Pushing his glasses up his nose, Josef said, "But Vulcans don't know what humans need."

"I believe Josef has a point," said Sarek. "We also do not understand what humans want. Further, their culture varies so much from region to region -- an application that becomes popular in North America might not be appealing to individuals in South Africa. If we let the humans --"

At that moment the floor beneath their feet began to roll. Down the hall Sarek saw professor Karmac slump against a wall, the human reader next to him reaching out and grabbing his hand. A needle of pain shot up Sarek's hip. He felt his leg begin to crumple beneath him and then Josef's shoulders were suddenly under his and one of the the human's arms was around his back. The world continued to shake.

"What's going on?" asked Josef. Sarek wondered for a millisecond at how difficult it was for humans to relate knowledge to circumstances. San Francisco was in an active seismic zone. Surely Josef knew --

"Earthquake," said Trivant. From the corner of his eye Sarek saw him lean hard on the human.

"I don't feel anything," said Josef.

A/N:
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