Disclaimer - Please see Chapter 1
Chapter 21 - Negotiations
Sordd was sitting working in the clinic completing a number of reports for the Vulcan Medical Institute. There was a brisk sharp knock on the door. When he looked up Avarak and his friend Saros were standing before him. He studied them both in turn. Avarak had a gash on his forehead, the green coloured blood already starting to clot. He also had badly grazed left and right hands. His trip uniform had multiple rips the largest being a tear on the left knee which revealed a cut that was still bleeding. Avarak despite his best efforts always came across as being the more untidy of the two Vulcan children, and today was no different. It didn't help that his hair looked wild. Sordd looked with compassion upon his son; Avarak was so similar to him at that age. The struggle to look ordered and disciplined was real. He trusted that one day things would begin to fall into an ordered state for Avarak, as they had for him. Saros was standing faithfully beside him. He had no injury to his forehead, but both his hands were badly grazed and his left knee was also bleeding. Saros, despite the injuries, looked impeccable in his trip uniform, apart from a small rip at the left knee. His hair was in the style favoured by the Vulcan species, not a hair on his head was out of place.
Sordd beckoned them to come in. "What has happened to you two?" he said in his usual calming and patient voice.
They had decided before entering the clinic that it was Saros's turn to be the spokesman. "Hakausu Sordd, we were climbing a palm tree, we lost our grip and gravity hastened our trip to the ground faster than we had anticipated."
"Indeed... If you both sit up on the biobed I will run some scans." Sordd pressed a button on the side of the biobed and it lowered to an appropriate height for them both to sit on, then it raised again.
Saros spoke again, "Hakausu Sordd, Avarak's injuries are more severe than my own. I deduce that he requires medical assistance first."
"Very well, on your recommendation I will scan him first." Sordd ran a tricorder scan on his son and then Saros to ensure that they had only minor injuries. "How is your pain level Saros?"
"It is nothing that I cannot manage Hakausu."
"Avarak, what about you?"
"It is manageable sa-mekh."
He could tell that there was more to their adventure than they were divulging, there usually was. "Why were you both climbing a palm tree?" The look in his eyes told the boys that it would be best to tell the truth, not that a Vulcan child would dare to lie.
Avarak spoke, "Sevel dared us to try and climb it, so we did." he said matter of factly.
Sordd frowned. "And what is a 'dare' Avarak?"
"We heard some human children use the word, it means you challenge someone to prove their courage."
"That sounds very illogical. You should not do something solely because someone is questioning your courage. That would be giving way to an emotion. As Vulcans you should seek to control your emotions." He said this in a kind but firm voice looking at them both in turn.
Both boys flushed slightly and bowed their heads. There was silence for sometime as the rebuke sank in.
Avarak was next to speak. "Ni'droi'ik nar-tor sa-mekh for being injured again."
Sordd looked at Avarak, "Accidents happen. Although if you had both assessed the situation in a logical manner, instead of going on an emotional response, it could have been prevented... There is a strange irony in the fact that I am a doctor and you, my son, have more entries in the accident log per week than anyone else from the Embassy…" He turned to Saros, "For your information Saros you are a close second."
The boys turned to each other and both raised an eyebrow, they were slightly pleased with themselves. Sordd gave them a particular look to indicate that their response was not very appropriate, they both schooled themselves so that their faces had a more neutral expression.
"You both need treatment with a dermal regenerator." He collected the piece of equipment and then began to treat the children, who both sat patiently.
Avarak spoke again, "Sa-mekh, T'Sai Mimi is taking her nephews Peter and Adam on a field trip, they are planning on walking a forest trail and to visit the 'pools' to swim in them. Would it be agreeable to you if I went with them?" he turned to his friend, "Saros would also like to go."
"When is the trip?" Sordd started to work on Avarak's knee which was still bleeding.
"It's on Friday, they leave at 0900 hours. I will need to take-mid meal with me as they will be away for the whole day."
"What subjects are you scheduled to study on Friday?" He moved to treat the gash on his sons forehead. Avarak flinched a little as the process nipped.
"I do not have any practical subjects. I'm scheduled to study High Vulcan and the philosophy of Surak in the morning. I spoke to Sa'mekh'al Skon, and he would be willing to supervise me with these subjects. In the afternoon I'm scheduled to study Mathematics and Federations Standard. I thought going on a field trip with humans would aid with studying Standard, also ko-kuk Manda is willing to assist. So that leaves the Mathematics, could you supervise that sa-mekh?" He looked up at his father with a glimmer of hope in his eyes.
Sordd looked down kindly at his son. "So you have everything planned Avarak?"
"It is only logical sa-mekh. I still require your permission though."
"I will allow you to go, on the condition that your sa'mekh'al and ko-kuk are satisfied that you have covered a sufficient amount of content. I will supervise the Mathematics. All of which needs to happen before Friday or you cannot go on the trip." As he was talking he move on to treating Saros's injuries.
"That is most agreeable sa-mekh, lesek." Avarak said with a contented look on his face, he immediately began to plan how he would get through the work before Friday.
Sordd turned to Saros, "Saros, you will have to seek permission from your own parents... What subjects have you to study on Friday?"
"I am timetabled to study the same as Avarak. I will discuss the trip with my parents after endmeal."
"If your parents allow you to go on the trip, as I am supervising Avarak with his Mathematics, it would be logical for me to also supervise you. "
"Lesek Hakausu Sordd." Saros replied.
When the treatment was finished both boys said thank you. They jumped off the biobed and started to leave the room to go to end-meal.
Sordd spoke. "Avarak," his son turned to look at him, "One final thing... No more dares!"
"Ha Sa-mekh, they are riolozhikaik!" he replied.
Notes
Hakausu - Healer
Ni'droi'ik nar-tor - I am sorry
Sa-mekh - Father
Sa'mekh'al - Grandfather
Ko-kuk - Aunt
Lesek - thank you
Riolozhikaik - illogical - contradicting or disregarding the principles of logic; without logic; senseless