See disclaimer in part 1.

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EPILOGUE:

Sarek of Vulcan was always secretly pleased when his son sent him a letter telling him of his adventures on the Enterprise. Spock, by way of Starfleet, had encountered many new alien races and mediated skirmishes across the galaxy, making his ambassador father often reconsider his original notion that Spock's best career choice was attending the Vulcan Science Academy Diplomatic Corp, as he had.

With eager anticipation, Sarek placed Spock's message tape in the player and sat down to watch.

"Greetings, Father,

"I trust you are well. I wish to tell you of the unusual circumstances surrounding our latest mission. A landing party consisting of Captain Kirk, Doctor McCoy and myself, beamed down to a planet named Pololola…"

A sudden flash of shame tinted Sarek's face an emerald green as he recalled his somewhat vague memories of his visit to that same planet. He'd been forced to find his own way out of Horrax Prime and had ended up on a rather disreputable freighter with a devious captain and the most illogical, emotional human he'd ever met for company. It seemed an intriguing coincidence that his companion's descendent – indeed, his namesake – was irritating Spock in the same way all these years later.

Sarek was mortified when he'd recovered fully from the effects of the alcohol and McCoy had told him, as they once again squished together in the tiny freighter compartment, the entire story from the Vulcan's alcohol-induced actions to the fact a whole tribe now considered him a god.

The Vulcan ambassador groaned softly as he heard more of Spock's message and noticed his son's curiosity when speaking of the mysterious Sa-riik – or Saareek, according to the diary. Spock's on-screen image lifted a leather-bound volume Sarek recognised instantly as the book McCoy had carried around constantly. His memory was hazy, but he didn't recall seeing it after they left Pololola. He groaned again. There was a picture – of him! And how he looked like Spock as a young man! He buried his face in his hands. Spock was asking if Sarek would make enquiries with the Vulcan Science Academy to determine the identity of Saareek. What could he do?

Removing the message tape, Sarek rose and headed for his meditation chamber. He was going to need several hours, perhaps days, to resolve this problem. On the way, he passed Amanda's bookcase and one title caught his eye: The Prophecy.

It was with faint amusement that he realised the prophecy of Sa-riik and his Holy Son had indeed been fulfilled.

FIN