Chapter 74 - Christmas Special Ops
December 22nd 2230 London
Hugh did not hesitate to say yes when Mimi called and asked if he could pick up Avarak, T'Shahel, and her from London City Shuttleport on the 23rd. He had grown to enjoy the company of his new Vulcan family and wanted to spend as much time as he could with them before they relocated to Vulcan. A week later he was standing at the arrival gate waiting for Mimi and the children to come through. Their shuttle had arrived on time, however, it being Christmas things were a lot busier than usual so it was taking time for people to come through security clearance. He glanced up again at the arrival screen, double checking what he had already double checked before.
When he looked back at the arrival gate he caught a glimpse of Avarak, dressed in a blue excursion suit with a matching jacket and carrying a small black backpack, he saw a smile on Avarak's face in acknowledgment which quickly disappeared. Closely behind him was T'Shahel, wearing a purple excursion suit with black jacket and carrying a medium sized backpack, there was no smile on her face but her eyes said that she was happy to see him, although he knew she would not use the word happy. Behind them both came Mimi, waving and smiling in his direction, she was wrapped up for the winter in a red woollen jacket, warm black trousers, boots and matching handbag. Behind them their automated luggage followed closely, when they stopped the luggage stopped, when they moved the luggage moved.
Hugh walked towards them and gave Mimi a massive bear hug which he held longer than was usual.
"Thank you for picking us up dad," she said enthusiastically.
"That's not a bother," he replied while ruffling Avarak and T'Shahel's hair with his big hands, neither of them seemed to mind. "It's good to see you all again."
"How are you doing T'Shahel?" he asked.
"I am adequate sa'mekh'al, thank you," she replied neutrally.
"What about you Avarak, I think you have grown since I last saw you!"
"I have grown 2.32 cm," Avarak replied with a slight hint of pride in his tone. "We saw a shooting star from the shuttle window!" he continued excitedly.
"Well that must be Santa making sure his reindeer are all in shape," Hugh replied with a twinkle in his eye.
Avarak tilted his head and frowned slightly, "Sa'mekh'al, a shooting star is a fragment of an asteroid or comet, made up of iron and silicates. I don't think it was Santa!"
Hugh laughed uproariously. Avarak was uncertain as to why what he had said produced such a response from Mimi's sa-mekh, before he could say anything further Mimi intervened.
"He's teasing you Avarak," she said while giving her dad a look. Hugh toned it down in response.
As usual Mimi had food and drink on her mind, "Dad, can we grab some snacks and drinks before we go to the flitter?" she asked.
Hugh laughed again, "Somethings don't change," he said, while throwing his arm around Mimi's shoulder and hugging her again.
*'*
Lepus Base, Stella Tadina
A chime came from Sordd's padd. He stood up from his meditation mat and walked over to the bedside table to look at it. It was Mimi, they had safely arrived at Rose Cottage, a little later than planned but they were there nonetheless. Sordd quickly calculated time differences then replied to her message arranging a holo-call for later in the day his time, and what would be morning her time. He had a busy day ahead of him, in the morning he was presenting a paper on inter species transmission of rihak-pi'krus VII. In the afternoon he had booked two workshops, and had also arranged to meet Dr Phlesc, a Denobulan specialising in xenobiology genetics, and Hakausu T'Asil, a Vulcan obstetrician specialising in xenobiology, He made himself some Vulcan green tei before starting to get ready for the day.
*'*
23rd December - Rose Cottage
In the morning Hugh dropped Mimi, T'Shahel, and Avarak off in the local town so they could do some last minute Christmas shopping. Mimi had already arranged for some gifts to be delivered to the cottage, but there were still some bits and bobs she wanted to pick up as stocking fillers. They had all wrapped up warm and they took their time to walk through the cobbled streets of the town. The town had a very Christmassy feel about it, reams of twinkling fairy lights, platefuls of festive foods and hot cups of aromatic mulled wine were some of the treats available at the Christmas Market.
They walked through the Arcade where there was an excellent selection of shops, mainstream shopping chains interspersed with independent crafts and gift shops, bakers, deli's, candle shops, perfumeries, and artisan chocolatiers. They went in and out of the different shops, in between having mince pies, gingerbread, tea, coffee and hot chocolate at a local coffee shop, only Mimi had the hot chocolate. After they had purchased everything they wanted Mimi called her Dad and he came and picked them up and dropped them back at the cottage where they spent the afternoon wrapping their gifts and decorating the rooms.
Later that evening Avarak formulated a plan … "We need to contact sa-mekh without M'aih Mimi knowing," Avarak, who had snuck into T'Shahels room, whispered to her.
"He will be meditating just now," she replied after inwardly calculating the time differenced between Earth and Stella Tadina. "We have a holo-call arranged for tomorrow, we can ask M'aih Mimi to leave the room and make our request then."
"It is supposed to be a surprise," he replied, "and he will need time to get it."
T'Shahel tilted her head, "Vulcans are not known for planning surprises Avarak."
Avarak frowned, "I know, but it is for M'aih Mimi and she is human… please can we contact sa-mekh?"
T'Shahel thought for a few moments, "OK," she said. She then took out her padd and put in the communication code...
*'*
Lepus Base, Stella Tadina
Sordd was deep in meditation when the chime went off on his padd, it was 5am local time. He stood up from his mat and walked over to the bedside table to look at it. It was T'Shahel, which was unexpected, he calculated that it was 11pm their time, well past her bedtime! He immediately answered the call, concerned that there was an emergency. He was inwardly relieved to see T'Shahel and Avarak, who looked in good health, sitting on T'Shahel's bed in Rose Cottage, he wondered where Mimi was.
Sordd raised the ta'al, "Dif-tor heh smusma," he said.
"Sochya eh dif sa-mekh," T'Sahel replied.
"Where is M'aih Mimi?" he asked, preventing a hint of concern from entering his voice.
"She is having her nocturnal rest sa-mekh," T'Shahel whispered in reply.
Sordd wondered why she was whispering, "Why are you not partaking of nocturnal rest?" he asked neutrally. He watched as both his children swallowed nervously.
"We want a surprise for M'aih Mimi," T'Shahel said in reply.
Sordd raised an eyebrow, "A surprise?"
"Yes, sa-mekh," Avarak chipped in enthusiastically.
"Vulcans are not know for surprises," Sordd replied flatly.
"Sa-mekh, please can we surprise M'aih Mimi?" Avarak said with a pleading in his eyes.
Sordd wondered what they were planning and there was no better way to find out other than by asking. "Very well, what is the nature of the surprise?"
"Avarak will explain," T'Shahel said, after all it was his idea.
Avarak took a deep breath then proceeded, "We went shopping today to buy gifts for Christmas, we will open them on the 26th when you are here," he explained, "we need to get a gift for M'aih Mimi, a surprise!" he said.
"It is a tradition that humans have, to give and receive gifts at Christmas," T'Shahel continued. "We do not have anything to give to her, can you help sa-mekh?"
"I am aware of the tradition," Sordd replied, having already purchased some gifts for his children and Mimi on the base. "What would you like me to obtain for her?" he asked.
Avarak and T'Shahel looked at each other, they had not thought about that part.
T'Shahel then turned to look at her father, "We do not know sa-mekh," she replied.
"We could get her something for going to Vulcan?" Avarak suggested. "She needs desert boots."
"She also likes bubble bath," T'Shahel continued excitedly as ideas started to flood into her mind, "and perfume, and flowers. Maybe a plant?"
"She also likes chocolate," Avarak said, "and candles."
Sordd held up his hand in the universal sign for stop, "Very well, I will obtain some gifts for you to give to her."
"Nemaiyo, sa-mekh," Avarak said.
"Is there anything else I can do to be of assistance?" Sordd asked.
"Nirsh, sa-mekh," T'Shahel said.
"Ha, sa-mekh," Avarak said, "Can you get them wrapped?" he asked, "and keep it a secret from M'aih Mimi?"
"Affirmative Avarak, I will ensure the gifts are wrapped, and I will keep it a secret."
Avarak smiled at this then quickly schooled himself, "Nemaiyo, sa-mekh," he said in thanks.
"I' bolau tu shom," Sordd said, knowing that there would be consequences if his children did not get their rest. "I will speak with you both tomorrow."
"Rom-halan sa-mekh," Avarak and T'Shahel both said.
"Rom-halan," Sordd responded. The holo call ended. Sordd took a few moments to decide on what surprises he could get for Mimi from the children, and he inwardly smiled when he thought about the surprise he would be giving them all…
*'*
Notes
Sa'mekh'al - Grandfatherbr
M'aih - I wanted to use a word that could be used to show Mimi's status as a stepmother, so I went with this one which does mean mother according to the Vulcan language database, as opposed to ko-mekh which I use for T'Rama, Sordd's mother.
Dif-tor heh smusma - Live long and prosperbr
Sochya eh dif - peace and long lifebr
Nemaiyo - thank youbr
Nirsh - Nobr
Ha - Yesbr
I' bolau tu shom - you need your restbr /
Rom-halan - goodbye/farewell
