Saavik came into her quarters and went directly to the computer's terminal in the room. Ignoring the closet, she placed her suitcase soundlessly beside the table next to it and sat. On the opposite wall was the bunk, reminding her that the place was usually shared by two officers that now stayed on the base. The Numancia had no quarters for admirals or guests, and even if the commander had offered her own room to her, insisting she took it being the higher ranking officer, she had chosen one of the now available cabins for her. Commander Song had considered the room was too little for her, something that had dryly amused Saavik; the young human obviously knew nothing of the terrible conditions she had lived in.
She ordered the computer to start her private communications program. She had already arranged in the base for all her calls to be transferred directly to her new temporary quarters in the Defiant class ship, and with that, the particularly codified transmissions from Spock entered as well. There were no incoming messages, though. Saavik suppressed a disappointed sigh. She sent her own signal out instead; it simply said, "I am available now." An understatement. What she really wanted was to scream at Spock to answer her. But that was highly emotional, and illogical.
As she waited, Saavik swept her gaze through the small quarters and their smooth simple surfaces. It was the cabin of two junior officers in one of Starfleet's less comfortable ships; it was an unthinkable luxury for the abandoned children of Hellguard. And even if the inhospitable planetoid was now far away in her past, its shadow always lingered in a remote corner of her mind, and it got closer now, when her lifetime enemy was so near her, and the fears and desires from her childhood stirred inside her, and threatened once more to overcome the carefully built world of rules and ethics that guided her life now; the so long ago swearing of retribution defied now the valued principles she had embraced and still wanted to uphold.
Her eyes went back to the mute computer. For a moment, she saw herself as the little feral girl who had sought comfort in the strong arms of young Spock, always calm and accepting in spite of her enraged violence. She was not helpless and wild anymore, and none of them were now young, but she needed him as intensely as then. In those difficult moments, she wanted her bondmate by her side.
However, once more, duty kept them physically apart, even if their souls were one. And she could only wait to hear his reassuring voice. So she willed her control, and since the computer continued in silence, she took her suitcase, put it on the table and started to place her few belongings at the closet.
Saavik had finished already and was practically glaring at the computer terminal when it finally beeped and the key message appeared on the screen. She swiftly sat again as she ordered the computer to accept his call. The security procedure created by them did not get her immediate access. It insisted in a series of questions while it scanned her. Once the system verified everything was in order, the formidable presence of Spock materialized in the narrow room. It was only an hologram, but it was the closer they could get to each other, so a warm smile sparkled on Saavik's eyes, and she stood up again to have her fingers brush his projected hand. So many light-years away, Spock returned the gesture with unhidden love. The immediate telepathic surge of merged thoughts and emotions they were supposed to feel never came, but they remained this way for some seconds, their fingers caressing the space where the other virtually stood.
"Spock," Saavik said, and the softly spoken name lingered a moment in the air, "I am going to confront Ajeya."
As blunt as ever, her words were out before she could actually decide if it was wise or not. Spock, of course, already knew of Ajeya's arrival to the Romulan fleet in the Gamma Quadrant; however, there were still many things he was unaware of. Before he could reply, Saavik explained further.
"She knows of Koval's plans, I do not know yet how or why, but she knows, and soon I will know too."
Spock's fear for his wife's welfare arose briefly in his mind, only to be replaced immediately for his strong confidence in her. However, he did not let his concern for her appear in his eyes at any moment, and aloud, he only expressed his less personal doubts, "Is she in connivance with him?
Spock was once more gazing at the lake outside. The former breeze was now a strong wind that arose some violent waves in the usually calm surface. It was raining hard outside, and raindrops constantly perforated the beach's sand that had turned now a dark brown tapestry full of small holes. Some birds defied the weather and flied against the wild air currents, ready to dive down into the turbulent waters full of food.
Spock contemplated nature, while inwardly he continued thinking about Saavik and her difficult task ahead. His mind could not forget his bondmate and her predicament.
"I wonder if this storm is a foretelling of what is going to unfold," D'Tan dreamy voice almost startled him. The man had come into the room minutes ago, but he had stayed quietly seated at one corner of the table, drinking ale.
"That is not logical, D'Tan," Spock softly replied him, but he did not turn to look at him.
D'Tan was looking intently to the clouded sky, his eyes lit with emotion. "But it's happening, isn't it? Saavik is putting an end to this." There was a mix of joy, hope and some fear.
This time, Spock faced him, "Saavik is going to try." He had hardly explained to D'Tan what he had learnt from her, and had not really shared the details of their plans. "Many facts are still unknown to us. You have not yet learnt anything of Thieurrul, for example."
The mention of the forsaken colony made D'Tan look away from the window and fix his glance on his drink instead. He took the glass and noticed how cold it was. Just like the weather outside, even if at home it could not be felt. He gulped down what was left of the ale and let the liquor burn his throat.
"I really can't find anything about Thieurrul and Norenci." His voice sounded tired, disappointed.
"There has to be something," Spock forcefully replied from his standing point at the window.
D'Tan chuckled nervously, certain exasperation appeared in his otherwise controlled features. "Oh, yes, there is something," he snapped back.
Spock turned as he noticed the change in his tone. A large thunderbolt crossed just then the sky and was lost at the sea. None of them saw it, and its sound never penetrated the house's insulation.
When D'Tan met Spock's eyes, he went on, "This is personal, isn't it?, what you have against Koval."
"I have nothing personal against Koval, D'Tan," Spock calmly corrected his friend. "I am merely trying to stop him from harming others."
D'Tan inhaled slowly as he thought of what he was going to say next; he summoned his courage and looked at Spock in the eye. "Like Saavik," was all he mustered at first.
But Spock had his intense glance also locked at him. D'Tan put his hand over his glass again, but it was already empty and it was quickly warming up. He lowered his gaze. "Like Saavik…" he murmured again. "She was one of them, wasn't she? One of the children of Hellguard." He looked up again.
Spock's eyes were still on him, they never flickered, never showed a sign of whatever feelings or thoughts the younger man's words stirred on him. "So you did learn something," was all he commented, his voice as neutral as ever.
D'Tan let a sad brief smile show, "About Thieurrul? I learned a lot. Anything to do with Norenci? No, I'm afraid that I didn't."
"And about Saavik?" just then Spock wondered if his question had sounded too rushed, if he had shamefully let slip some of the apprehension he was feeling inside.
D'Tan breathed deeply again. "Actually, no," he confessed, "it was a guess."
Spock took some steps forward and neared the Romulan man. "It's very private, D'Tan," his deep voice firmly spoke.
His friend only nodded in acceptance, but before settling the matter, he repeated his former statement, "It means that your quest against Koval is personal."
"Indeed?" Spock immediately answered. "It does not. Your logic is faulty."
But D'tan laughed at that, even if his smile died very soon in his lips to return to his broody expression, "It was not my logic speaking, but my heart."
Spock did not like the way their conversation was heading, he had already stated it was a private matter and he was not open to further discussion; that why he decided to turn the questions on the Romulan man instead. "And you, D'tan, why are you doing this?"
The query was simple enough, but once more the young man spoke from his heart; very seriously, he assured, "I do this for us, Spock, for the movement, for the Romulan people."
Again, lighting illuminated the sky.