Chapter Fifty-Five

Of Romulans and Warrior Kings

Homes

Pa'lock had fallen asleep with As'eese in his arms. He sighed, breathed in deeply and felt contentment like a blanket enfold him.

He thought on a bit of recently revealed news that had held special interest for him… Spock would be coming to the family compound along with his bondmate Nyota. He looked forward to meeting the other Vulcan who by marriage was a Wakafunzi.

His Aduna stirred and he sent,

"As'eese, do not attempt to end your period of sleep, it is not time for you to awake, return to your peaceful rest. His hand reached forward to caress her swollen belly and he sensed his daughter's consciousness and reached out to it. It would not be too long before delivery.

He thought back on the wonder of his life, his meeting with As'eese while carrying out duties for the Vulcan consulate in Nairobi had brought him to this fullness of life.

He had not been of an important house on Vulcan, had been bonded and his aduna and he had been extremely compatible. When she was killed in a shuttle accident while pregnant with their son he was devastated. He could not come to terms with, 'what is, is' . Pa'lock accepted an assignment at the Vulcan consulate in Nairobi, far removed from his home planet, the location of his painful memories.

The longer he stayed in this country the more he was sure that he had no desire to return to Vulcan. The beauties of this location stirred in him a illogical desire to spend his entire life there. At this point, his ties to Vulcan were virtually non-existent.

When he expressed that desire to his immediate superior he was appalled. As Pa'lock reviewed the information, his immediate supervisor even used the word treasonous in the description of Pa'lock's thoughts and purposed action. But he explained that hundreds of thousands of Vulcans worked off-world, in various endeavors, some government related, others not. It was not his intention to relinquish his Vulcan citizenship, just stay on this world and pursue his career outside the boundaries of the consulate.

He stood before The Chief Envoy, a seasoned veteran of life on this planet who asked him,

"Does your decision have to do with a Terran female?"

"Osu, not at present, but it is my desire that that will become an eventuality."

As'eese's face came into his consciousness.

"Yes, Osu, an eventuality that I will pursue with Vulcan determination."

The people of this area are joyous, welcoming, demonstrative, and Pa'lock felt himself inextricably drawn toward them. He so admired their rich skin tones, especially so when he compared it to his paleness.

What Pa'lock could not possibly know is that the Vulcan male he stood before, the Chief Envoy, had felt similar stirrings many, many years ago and had secretly bonded with his choice and had a clandestine relationship with her, in a place far removed from the Consulate. As a matter of fact, his bondmate and children lived far away from any possible prying eyes. His regular physical returns to her were always met with her joyous welcome and the undercurrents of her presence soothed his mind. He justified his action by the thought, I can remain close to my Aduna and provide materially for her only by my continued position in this ofice.

So how could he deny this young male, who mirrored his desires and actions? How coluld he not aid him to fulfill them? His wishes for the young Vulcan were stated thusly,

"Pa'lock, may the path you take bring you to the maiden's peace. Live Long and Prosper."

Before turning to depart he expressed,

"Thank you Osu No'vosek, I will keep you advised as to whether my plans become successful. 'Peace and Long Life.'"

When Pa'lock next saw As'eese, he had been hired by Benjamin Uhura to open up some sort of trade dialogue with his home planet, Vulcan. Within a short period of time those sales outstripped all the others and Pa'lock was even given his own office.

He then felt that he was in a position to offer himself to As'eese, but first they would have to get to know one another. This was a Terran custom called courting and he embraced it.

After two months of sitting together at meals and taking short afternoon walks he requested that she accompany him to a musical event, then to a dinner meal.

As'eese smiled and asked,

"Dressy or casual?"

His glance was quizzical.

"Office wear or more fancy.?"

"Would 'more fancy' mean you would wear something that I have never seen before?"

She nodded in the affirmative.

"Then I would be pleased to see you in something my eyes have never been pleasured by."

When Pa'lock went to pick up As'esse she stood before him in her native dress, not the plain ones he had seen her wear at the office, but a dress that shown with gold threads. Her many braids were sprinkled with gold dust. For a moment Pa'lock was speechless. Then the first words out of his mouth might have been thought by others to be abrupt, out of place, forward and insensitive…

"As'esse, I desire you. My dreams are full of you. My body aches for you. Please accept me as your bondmate…your husband. This is my clumsy attempt to ask you to marry me."

As'esse stepped before him and smiled,

"Pa'lock, I am willing to become your wife, but you will have to ask my aunt's husband Uncle Benjamin, he is my legal guardian."

So, as usual, there was the isolation, the three day marriage celebration and finally fulfillment.

`0`0`0`0`0`0`

Pa'lock had been taken into the Uhura family circle, and adopted into the clan. That being the case, their son had already been known as a candidate for induction as a Wakifunzi.

He had requested that his family be allowed to stay in one of the cabins so that if and when As'eese was tired she could sleep where it was quiet because the family residence would be abuzz with activity. M'muba advised him that any cabin he picked would have its key under it's welcome mat.

His brother-in-law still had their son, it was wonderful to have this huge family that always cared for one another.

There was a large capacity transport that would pick up all family members at the company's parking facilities. He had packed and he went to the kitchen to prepare first meal.

`0`0`0`0`0`0`

Back at the compound Benjamin, Spock and Jabari were together. They had all come to the cabin where the chess set had been restored to it's pre-Jabari exit.

Jabari looked at Spock who eyed him with a raised eyebrow

Jabari cleared his throat, rubbed his head and spoke,

"I now have leverage in convincing my wife to come out of hiding."

He stood up and put his hand on his father's shoulder,

"Dad, you are to be a grandfather again…"

Eying Spock he continued,

"And you will be a troz'ot, an uncle again."

After all, the Wakifunzi were not noted for small families, so yes, from Nyota's family he was an uncle many times over.

Spock thought, as the only child of his father and mother this was a designation that he never would be bestowed on him as was the elusive title of sa-mekh (father).

Not one to restate the obvious Spock simply said,

"Was that information what required your immediate removal from our chess game?

"Indeed, Bro, indeed.

Can your imagine, she was upset that I would be disappointed."

Benjamin eyed Spock, but of cause, there was no change in his stoic Vulcan visage, but he was certain this information reminded Spock of the mutual lack of both he and Nyota in the area of procreation.

Spock asked,

"In what way does this provide leverage?"

"Dad, she wants to stay here. Of course, I will never expose her, our unborn child, or that matter, myself, to the dangers of space, especially in regard to the neutral zone. She is a brilliant engineer and would never want to just do the housewife thing, perhaps her talents would be useful to you."

Benjamin nodded.

"I will have to speak to my crew about leasing my ship. At some later time the ship might be useful in a family endeavor.

The fulfillment of my wife's wish was contingent upon her 'meeting her neighbors,' my family. She has agreed, and will be present for the 'The Drum Call of the Families'.

Dad, may we stay at the cabin for the time being and would you consider it presumptuous for me to request permission to build us a house within the compound?"

"I think that once M'muba discovers that she will have a grandchild right here she will want your house connected to ours by a breezeway. Do you think that we might meet Rhin before our opening ceremony?"

"Under the current circumstances, I believe she will be quite agreeable, after all Mom will be our child's first babysitter."

Benjamin's explanation continued,

"Rhin was an orphan, so she never knew a mother's love. I think it is about time she was introduced to it. I will return to the cabin then give me around thirty minutes.

`0`0`0`0`0`0`0`

Benjamin and M'muba approached the cabin door and he knocked softly.

A feminine voice said,

"Please enter."

The guest entered and looked in front of them and saw their son with a supportive arm around an exceptionally beautiful female.

"Mom, Dad may I present to you My Rhin, my wife."

Rhin bowed her head. M'muba came forward with her arms open,

"Daughter, welcome. We are honored to welcome you to our family, our clan and our tribe. Please accept us as your parents."

Of cause, we could blame the abundance of tears on an overflow of estrogen on the part of the two females, but it certainly did not explain the moist eyes of the men who stood and watched the comforting embrace of M'muba and the willing submission on the part of Rhin to said verbal expression. Then her physical evidence pf her surrender, the acceptance of M'muba's offered embrace.

Behind her back M'muba performed the universal hand signal for them to vacate the premises, which they did.

Jabari said,

"Babe, my father and I have to take care of some business. I will return shortly."

Rhin nodded.

M'muba smiled,

"Rhin please consider this request. Once the family has vacated our residence, would you consider moving into one of the rooms there. The house overlooks Lake Nakuru one of the most beautiful sights in our country. There is a private wing that can remain open to you. In addition, I as an anxious grandmother-to-be can 'spoil' you. Do you know what 'spoiling' a person means?

"No."

"It means to take extra special care of a person."

"That is how Jabari takes care of me. Thank you 'mother of me.'"

With that Rhin knelt before M'muba and placed her head on her mother-in-law's lap in submission.

M'muba kissed the top of Rhin's head and said,

"Would you like to go for a walk."

"Yes, mother."

M'muba threaded her arm through Rhin's and they exited the cabin to walk to 'The Big House.'