Chapter 114

Nightfall came before Amanda woke, finding herself lying on the cold and unyielding stone floor. She awoke in darkness, the only light being a thin strip of orange from underneath the front door.

Stiffly, she pulled herself upright and cradled her aching head. She rubbed her hand gently over the swollen lump that had risen on the back of her skull and winced. She vaguely remembered T'Pen being upset about something but she couldn't remember what or how exactly she'd ended up hitting her head.

There was a subtle thump at the door and Amanda recognized it as the sound of her faithful sehlat friend. Standing up slowly, she moved to open the door and felt the silky fur of I-Chaya against her leg. Finally, she turned on the lights and winced again as her eyes took time to adjust. Whilst she waited, she felt the fibrous rasp of I-Chaya's long tongue on her fingers which made her gasp. I-Chaya had taken to the salty taste he could sometimes find in her bare palms. Though he never dared to lick her when Sarek was around…

"Where's T'Pen, I-Chaya?" she asked.

The sehlat looked at her curiously. So he didn't know either.

She went to put on her outdoor shoes but her throbbing head made her pause. She wasn't going to be able to do anything with her head like this.

She moved to the small kitchenette area and pulled out a first aid kit. She pulled out a device the healers had demonstrated for her once and began to move it gently across her tender lump. She hissed but almost instantly the device began to reduce the swelling and soften the pain. After a couple of minutes application followed by an antiseptic wipe, relief swept through her. She hadn't felt this pain free for a long time. But before she had time to contemplate that thought further, there was an urgent knocking on the door.

Dropping what she was holding on the counter, she returned to the living area where I-Chaya sat flicking his tail in annoyance. As the knocking continued, she moved further to the front door but before she could reach it the visitor came inside.

Her eyes widened in shock as she took in the rough spun white robe.

"Socran?"

But when she looked upon the stranger's face, she felt her heart plunge into her stomach. She recognized that pale, almost bruised face. The memories of the pain he had inflicted on her made her tremble.

The V'Shar was here and he'd escaped the temple.

Sarek sat in his sister's living area. He consulted the tokens he had in his hand and those that were available on the table as he considered his next move. They were participating in a pastime that they had often completed as young children. It was a market trading simulation where the objective was to have the highest profit by the end of the round. The best out of three was declared the winner. His father had distinctly disapproved of the activity, declaring it was positively Ferengi but they had found it diverting. There was a randomness in each round that kept it engaging. The more tokens you collected the more you had to reveal to your opponent. Depending on what was revealed, different strategies were best employed. This wasn't an activity that Svelda had taught Taro and Sarek had no intentions of teaching his children either. It was something that only they shared.

When Sarek had arrived at her front door, he had not had to explain what had happened. She knew from one look and had beckoned him into the living area before quietly setting up the simulation.

Sarek decided to forego the resources that were available and sell his stockpile of water. He did not have a substantial amount so the reward would be limited but right now it was not in his favor to reveal new goods to the market. It was currently flooded with low value items and he was trying to force Svelda into requisitioning some of them.

She reviewed her tokens before deciding to pick up only one of the low value items. She was clearly unwilling to sell her current supplies just yet. As he'd anticipated, she revealed on the market a higher value item. He took the dilithium token, deciding that he would sell this promptly to gain a quick reward as they were reaching the latter stage of the round.

They continued in companionable silence like this until all three rounds had been completed. Svelda had won the first, he the second and she the third. Svelda began to clear the table and randomize the tokens to create another simulation. Sarek didn't object.

"When will she know?" she finally ventured.

Sarek helped her to sort the tokens into stacks.

"After our return from Terra," he answered.

She nodded calmly.

"Shall I accompany you?" she offered.

Sarek contemplated the idea of adding her to their entourage for the trip. Amanda would certainly benefit from her support but Svelda had already sacrificed time away from her family to help Amanda with her training. There was no logical reason that required her to be there. At least, not until she was informed.

"That will not be necessary," he replied.

Svelda created their starting positions and Sarek consulted the tokens he had been given. He had a number of high value tokens this time but he wouldn't be able to heavily stockpile them all. He would have to choose which ones would be his focus and get rid of the rest. Svelda made her starting move.

"There is something I must ask of you," he said quietly, taking some items from the market.

Svelda nodded.

"Ask it," she encouraged him, whilst taking some of the items he had just revealed.

He paused to collect his thoughts for a moment and she looked up at him expectantly.

"After my time… I will need you to care for Amanda whilst I am recovering."

"Of course, sa-kai (brother). You can be assured that I will take care of her in our mother's stead," she reassured.

Sarek ignored the brief irritation that crossed his mind at his mother's refusal to support Amanda in any way during their first pon farr. Returning his attention to the conversation, he knew she hadn't fully understood what he had meant.

"There is something more that I need of you," he explained quietly.

She raised her eyebrow at him curiously.

"There will come a time in my absence where you will need to show her…"

He thought carefully about the right word to use.

"…kindness," he decided.

She lowered her gaze. He knew now that she understood. She was aware of the human need for comfort through physical touch. With him unavailable, someone else would need to be a substitute for that basic need and he would rather it be his sister if it had to be anyone.

"I understand... I will treat her like my own child," she replied.

Sarek was comforted by this. He was fortunate to have such a sister who was already an experienced parent and who also understood the importance of his pursuit of their father's ideals. His burden would have been much heavier to carry if she hadn't been there to share it. They settled into comfortable silence again and continued with their activity.

After some time, Sarek was suddenly alerted by a connection with I-Chaya that conveyed a sense of urgency and alarm. A few moments later, Taro entered the living area, his blue sash askew in his haste.

"Sa-kuk! Amanda is in danger!"