We walk in and, armed with flashlights, walk down the stairs, carved from the rocks. On the walls was nothing. Just bare stone. After half an hour we come in a small open space. In the middle (from the ceiling comes a small lightbeam) is...A BOX... We eagerly walk forward and suddenly I fall down. As I land hard on my back I gaze up. Ouch?
"Saavikam??? Are you alright???" Spock called down.
"Yes...only my back hurts, what WAS that..."
"You triggered a safety mechanism...hidden under the sand. It made a opening which you fell in..."
"Really...hmm...could someone aid me out?" I turn around and see in the skull of skeleton. Nice... "And I would prefer some HASTE?" This was not amusing... A ladder was lowered and I ascended it. In a minute I stood next to Spock and Sarek again. Shish.
"It seems that there are traps everywhere." Sarek...
"Nice observation...how do we solve it then..." I was beginning to get annoyed.
"Father...the walls, they display some text." All three stare at it now. I cannot read that. It's too ancient. Sarek tries to, and Spock seems to 'read' it?
"Spock?"
"A moment please....Ah, hmm..." He can read Traditional Gollic Vulcan???
"I see...and I understand...." Sarek and I meet each others eyes. HUH?
"Yet again, a riddle...listen... From the dawn of time, security can be found, follow the path of logic, and you shall find the right way."
"Which means???" My comment...
"It means, that we have to apply logic before we can get to that box." DUH...
"My son, I was not aware of the fact you could read ancient Vulcan."
"I learned it after my refusion, T'Lar was of great help." A bit baffled Sarek and I stare at him.
"It was at my request. There were texts on the walls during my recovery. I could not understand them, so she translated it. After that, I decided to study the language." With an 'Oh sure you did.' Glare, I look at the box. So close....so close...
"Very well, logic tells us that you could walk without effort. For a mere box, does not need that much protection." Sarek's words. "The school was already protected, and enjoyed the status of save grounds." Ah...okay.
"Want to know my point of view?" Two pairs of eyes stare at me.
"My logic, and stay with me on this one, tells me, we don't need logic because they tell us to use logic. Then logic tells me, don't use it, logically it's a method of keeping me back. because it's a trap...does that make sense?"
I scratch my head. That was a sentence I could, and would not, repeat again...I kind off lost track of it myself see....
"For example, a compulsive liar, who tells you he always lies, lies...BUT, if he always lies, how can you be sure he does lie, because he never speaks the truth.... See?" Two blinking eyes...sigh...
"The walls and the paper tell us to use logic, logic says that you can walk without problems, which I can contradict...a look at my back is enough proof" I stare at Sarek
"So...the 'advise' is flawed, so in theory, we have to walk around it...correct?" I look for a confirmation. Slowly Sarek nods.
"Saavikam, I agree..." And suddenly both look at me expectantly...huh?
"Not me, Spock can do it. You and I walked through deserts and caves...and I fell down that hole. His turn."
Both Sarek and me gaze at Spock who walks away. In a big circle (how illogical) he nears the box. After 5 minutes, he grabs it, and takes the same path back. Suddenly the soil under his feet gave way and like me, he is stuck in a hole, about four meters deep.
"Your theory, Saavikam...is flawed..."
"It is not, I was merely stating the way TO the box, not the way back..." I almost laugh as Sarek, once again, grabs the ladder to free his son out the hole.
As Spock climbs up, I take the box. After he is out, we gather around the box.
"Okay, I know how to open it." Again I take the Box, hold it a bit high, and drop it. eager we watch it fall and...it stays closed. Aw? I try again, and again...no success...drat. "Well, it worked the first and the second time..."
"How crude a method..." Sarek and I steal glances and return it to Spock. It said 'So what? It opened?' He sighs a bit and examines the box. Exact copy of the other two. "It needs a key."
"Any suggestion where we can find a fitting key from the year 450?" I almost snarl. No key...tried master key when box two fell in it's lock. No success.
"A museum?" Spock and I look at each other, then to Sarek.
"To a museum we go then..." Spock replies and takes 'my' box. Together we walk to the exit, though the weapon hall and outside. The priestess closes the door and promised us that she would tend to the newly found hall. With it's traps.
Only two hours later we enter the museum of National History. Box in Spock's hands. We decided to have some lunch first. The curator is awaiting us. Welcoming us and showing us to a, for visitors, closed area.
"My name Sudek. Here are all the keys from the period of 450-500. If I find more, I shall bring them here as soon as I can." He hands Sarek a three pouches that contained keys. After that, he leaves us be. We scatter them on the table and sort them out. The big ones shall not fit anyway, so discarding them was a nice start.
In total, there were 342 keys. Each take 100 and take turns to fit them in. No one fitted. We are now down to the last 42. They are divided, and don't fit. Sudek returns with four more pouches. 1034 keys now. None fits. A secretary emerges from the door, she brings 3 pouches, no luck either.
The table is now covered with keys. All sorted by size and design. Sorting them was obviously not a prime task of the museum. They were interested in the box though. Well, that made four that were.
Late in the evening, well past closing hours, Sudek came once more. In his arms a huge box with the biggest collection of keys I ever saw.
"We found them misplaced. They stood with the year 1200 to 1500. I do expect you shall find the fitting key now." He places it on the table, steals a glance from the sorted keys on the table and leaves to go home.
04:00 Vulcan time...
"FOUND IT...." I exclaim almost ecstatic. All tired, all with sorted keys and fed up. Well, I was. All huddle around the box. I open it, and it's stacked with papers. HUH?????? What the...I never saw so many papers...parchments. Very, very old...
Spock takes a few and pages through them, Sarek and I join.
"Spock, some are written in Standard Vulcan, not Traditional.." Sarek replies.
"Indeed, let us divide the papers then, Saavik, take the Standard, Father, the Ancient Vulcan, I shall take the Traditional Gollic." All nod, all sort, all read.
08:00... museum opens...
"I am hungry, I shall return shortly with breakfast..." And I am. I have been reading all night. Well, ever since 04:00...
"Proceed, we shall be here when you return." Spock replies. So...I fetch some breakfast and beverages. This shall take days to decipher.
Sudek comes by every now and then, fascinated by our discovery. He reads some documents as well and becomes more and more interested. We declined his offer of joining us. After the promise we will inform him of our progress.
After three weeks of reading we come to the following conclusion. This quest, is about Surak, that, we knew. BUT, they never found his remains. His students and trustees have hidden it. His family declined cremating it after he was murdered. So...we are on the trail to finding his remains now.
It seems that his trustees were concerned about his body, martyr status was not desired, neither a tomb to honour him. So... they hid it. Leaving clues for the faithful. Us.. well, it was many centuries later, but still...
A small life story, a biography, and how he was killed, what he had done for the planet, the huge task he fulfilled. Nothing new. However. In one on the stacks of Sarek, we found clue number four.
At a planet, far and yet close, the master shall lay, in peace as was his doctrine. He rests with his head warm, his feet cold. His heart full with his teachings. When the sun closes to a halt, the signal has been set.
Nirak of Vulcan, honoured student of Surak.
"Sarek, Nirak was one of his prized students if I am correct..." Spock...
"Correct, Nirak was also the one that underwent the Fal-Tor-Pan...it was so far back in time, that we all thought of it as a myth. He was killed by Sudoc himself but was resurrected."
I shiver. Sudoc was a tyrant, he managed to get almost the entire planet in his grasp. Perhaps the most skilled telepath ever. He ruled by it, causing death and fear amongst all who opposed him. Only Shi-Kar managed to defy him. A war of almost 200 years....
"His head warm, his feet cold, his heart filled with his teachings..." I muse. "He is on a planet, far...and yet close. But where..." Spock and I meet eyes.
"Enterprise....the star charts..." In no time we are walking in the corridors. Papers in hand, Spock with the box, I with the artefacts. In the box was also a small amulet. The first sign of IDIC.
"Spock...what a surprise..." Captain James T Kirk. Walks from the turbo-lift.
"Greetings Captain."
"I thought...Ambassador, you are loosing papers..." I see him picking up some and hands it back to him.
"Thank you Captain, we come to solve a problem." Amused and curious he looks at Sarek. Oh, do ignore me...
"Really? What kind?"
"A riddle, His head warm, his feet cold, his heart filled with his teachings. On a planet far and yet close." Well, that made Kirk think.
"Emmm, who is?"
"The man that concern the riddle sir." Spock replies.
"Ah...well...head warm, feet cold...moon? When the moon turns, his head will be in a sun his feet in the shadow. I do not know about the heart part." We nod. "BUT, also another planet which has snow for instance. Sun in the summer, snow in the winter. Hot, cold." We sigh a bit.
"Sir, if I may, On Vulcan there is no snow. Neither in the surrounding planets." That got his attention.
"I know Saavik...nice to have you onboard..." I give a little smile. For him only... I suddenly freeze.
"Spock...I got it..." Surprised and a bit alarmed the three men gaze at me.
"His head warm, his feet cold, his heart filled with his teachings, heart filled with teachings, he teaches logic. The place to do that is Gol, if we can pinpoint the temple, we have to go to that moon, or planet...or does that sound illogical..."
They shake their heads. We go to the astrophysics room and begin counting. It takes us three days to count back to the year 400. Then we pinpoint Gol. Easy enough. Then a map overview of the nearby planets. And...there is was. Only one moon. Not fair actually. The same moon I found clue one.
Enterprise was ready to make a short testrun, so we could hitch a ride to the moon. By that time, we have informed Kirk of our little quest. He was most interested.
All four beamed down, with one bonus...McCoy...party of five.
"Now then, Bones...what are you doing...?" The doctor was gazing around.
"Well Jim, usually you can't breath on a moon now yah can...so...I am doing a test...imagine that. Just go on?"
"Captain Kirk, if I may, the sun is on our south, the shadow to the north, have you pinpointed it's location?" Sarek was getting really enthusiastic now. So was I, and I just KNEW, Spock was as well.
"A moment ambassador...Kirk to Sulu, do you have the co-ordinates?"
-Yes sir, about 2 kilometres to the west.-
"Thank you mister Sulu, Kirk out, well lets walk...coming Bones?"
"Yeah-yeah..."
after a walk we arrive at a cliff formation. There were many...many openings...rigghttttt...which one? We all stare at each other. Now what...
"Jim...the riddle said When the sun closes to a halt, the signal has been set. Wait until the sun sets on Vulcan, then you know the right cave." So...we wait. About an hour. The sun indeed set and one cave stood out like a candle. All five climb up. After a climb of ten minutes we arrive at our destination. We entered and walked in.
Suddenly McCoy...
"JIM, the entrance..." We all turn in union as a huge rock falls down. After the dust clears we see that the entrance is completely blocked.
"Captain, and you encounter this, with every mission?" Sarek...
"Well ambassador...not all the time, but often...Sulu, can you receive me?"
-Loud and clear sir...-
"Good, cave collapsed. Make sure you have a lock on us."
-yes sir...-
"Well one good thing, we are at the right cave..." Kirk...
"Indeed sir.." Spock...
After a walk for about 1 hour we come a small hall. Again, writing on the wall. Spock is already reading it.
"It says: walk to fast, you will fall, walk too slow, you will meet your downfall. Follow the light."
"..." No comment on my part.
"Spock, there is no light here..." McCoy...
"Correct doctor, however, there are more things that can create light. Like insight, or a clear mind."
"Rightttt, Bones, does the tricorder work?" I see the doctor vaguely.
"No Jim, interference..."
"Damn...the path is too small for more then one person, I'll go first." I see him, confident, walk forwards. Big mistake. Suddenly a 'click' and a whoosh. And before we know, Kirk has an arrow in his thigh. Quickly he scurries back and McCoy treats his wound.
"Not poisoned...your lucky...how can you just 'walk in'..." McCoy scolding...as usual.
"Sounded like a good idea. Just text on a wall Bones...ouchhhhh....."
"Spock, is there more to be read?" Me...
"Searching...yes. In torches you shall find the solution." So, I use my phaser to make a torch. They were as kind as to hang a few at the entrance.
Carefully I walk forwards, holding the torch in front of me, as I look at the ground, I see something shimmer. I bend down and remove some soil. A little piece of a gem. how ingenious.
I walk forward until I am half way. I turn and signal the other to follow, they do. In no time we all are safely at the other side. A small pair of stairs is leading us deeper.
"Wow...exciting...now what." McCoy...who is helping Kirk to walk.
"Now, we read again Doctor. Spock? I found some texts again." Sarek..
"Yes father...it reads: opposites.
"Opposites? Of what?" Kirk...
As we look around we observe stone cubes. Some with a moon, others with a star or sun. Odd thing is, one star is white with a black background. Another block is a black star with a white background. Also, there are six pillars. In each pillar a small alcove with a block. Three pillars on each side.
"Ah, Jim, I know, opposites. The black background vs. the white one." All in agreement we now place the blocks opposite from each other. After 5 minutes we hear a scuffling sound. We gaze around and see an opened door. Interesting. We proceed down.
"A bridge?" Sarek...
On the bridge are figures. Similar to those on the cubes.
"Opposites again?" Kirk...
"That would be too obvious..." Sarek...
"There are no texts to be read either." Spock...
"There are figures on the walls.." Me...
All gaze around and indeed. All the figures are to be seen. The light coming from small openings in the ceiling.
"All the figures are indeed present, all but one..." Sarek... I agree. All but one...
"The one with the sign of Gol." Spock...
"Then logical speaking...follow the sign of Gol then..." McCoy...
And...we do. And don't fall. Well, Kirk almost does. He lost his balance and stepped on a star-sign. All due to his wound. We are able to help him up again. He is not amused.
"Well then...a closed door." Me...
"There is some text here..." Spock... "Completion of the quest, learn and wonder, the master rests here. Honour him, and think of his teachings. Questions are soon to be answered." I lean against a wall. This quest was getting more and more unnerving. What if we all do find him...that would stir the planet. I slip and fall on my butt. Suddenly the door opens. Am I getting clumsy? No, not clumsy. My own fault. I lean against a wall...I fall. End of conclusion.
We all gaze inside. A round room with a small dais. On the dais, a coffin. Like on the boxes. On the walls are drawings. Also, like on the boxes. A Huge IDIC symbol in vibrant colours on the marble floor. Not a piece of dust to be seen. Candlesticks with...new?...candles burning. As do we smell incense. On the coffin, a banner with the Vulcan crest. As if it is washed yesterday instead of more then 3000 years ago...something can't be right.
"Well done, children of Vulcan and Earth..." I am baffled and taken aback. WHAT???? There is a person here? Who...where...Instinct makes me grab the phaser.
"Come forward..." We do, ever so careful. Suddenly I see on another small dais...I almost faint. T'Lar?
"We, are the guardians of Surak, for ages past...Thy has solved the riddles of Vulcan's father...thy shall be rewarded."
"T'Lar..." Sarek bows slightly, as I just gape. This is not the way I have planned it at all...how...huh?
"Greetings Sarek, Spock, Kirk, McCoy and the child that started this quest...Saavik...come forward child..." I freeze. No...nonononono....I was just playing a game here.
This is getting out of hand. I just found that box in that cave and just followed the leads... Still...my feet do it for me... in no time I am standing before her red robes. I don't even notice the priestesses taking their place at the tomb...I gawk in her face, quickly I recover and close my mouth...unbecoming Saavik...keep your wits together...
"Thou has been treated unfair, judged by thy heritage of ages past. Even if we do judge thy by thy heritage, thou art still Vulcan. For before the separation, we were one." True, no comment there...I am getting nervous...
"Thou has found the clues, solved them, with aid, now thou art rewarded. Learn my child, and gaze in the face of thy only father."
In the back I hear the priestesses removing the stone on the top of the tomb. "Learn, and ask...thou shall find the answer."
I don't even hear T'Lar saying all should leave. All but me. The entire room is empty, all but me...why am I suddenly so popular??? I am just Saavik...half-breed, not wanted...a third wheel...tolerated... And now T'Lar says to me I can look in the face of Surak himself? Ask questions that shall be answered? I never understood the Vulcan mysticism...
"Em...hello?" Only a echo.. nothing more. "What am I supposed to do...walk around in circles? Mediate...die, do nothing? Is it me, or is it getting warm here...I remove my coat and drape it on a bench.
Carefully I walk to the dais, one step, two...three...four...no more? Ah...one more... My feet refuse to work. Keep your logic intact. It's just a coffin with Vulcan remains. A voice in my head... not just any remains, the remains of Surak himself, show respect.... I see a opening.
Ah...naturally, it's a coffin daft. I have a quick flash-back of Spock's coffin...eek...but in there, is not my Mentor...no...the mentor of all Vulcan...nothing more...My nerves are falling apart now...
I lean forward and...see...a face...a robe...a hand...a ring...a body of a man. Perfectly preserved. His face is gentle and almost fatherly.
"So this is the Father of Fathers...the statues do you injustice though. They look barely like you..." I place my hands before my mouth...OOOHHHHHHH....sure...you just see Surak himself and insult his statues...great job...
"Indeed....they tend to do that...." I almost faint or have a heart attack, my body has not decided yet. One of both...I jump in my mind a meter upwards before I can settle my heart rhythm again. SHISH.... I turn around and gaze at the same man as the coffin. I look back, turn around again...and all goes black... When I wake, the man is still standing there ...okay ...Saavik girl...you are seeing a ghost...
"I do have the tendency to make people faint...are you well?" I nod...I can't talk...a lump on my throat takes care of that. SPPOOOCCCKKKKKKKK....
"You completed the task..." Again, I nod. EEK? He walks forwards to me...
"You are filled with questions...ask." Ask? Ask what...how? I am talking to a ghost. In logic, ghosts can't be...impressions of the past...untrue...not real...
"Em...no insult meant...but you are supposed to be dead...sir..."
"Correct, when I was killed, one of my pupils Nirak took my Katra. In death, so he spoke once, I still could serve my people. And, I do.
Questions I answer for those troubled and seeking. Like you. He placed my Katra in a memory stone, far greater then that of Gol, I can appear whenever, and how often I desire. When called upon, I arise from my slumber."
"Ah..." Am I beginning to sweat? Yes...em...I do...so, A memory stone. I know about those. I know that he gives me time to digest this news. He is now so close that I can touch him. Figure of speech. Logic went on a holiday.
"They despise me..." He gives me a glance.
"Who child..."
"All of em..." I break, and cry...great job, master of logic before your nose, and you cry...
"Surely not all.." He stands so calm there and I am breaking apart...
"All, Spock felt 'obligated' to raise me...(Sob) StarFleet wanted my knowledge, (sniff) Romulans created me with rape (sniff) and my bond-mate decided he is too busy with his work so he cancelled the wedding. (whimper) I have almost no friends (sniff)...I have no family...I just...have myself...(sob)" There, I said it...frustration of years.
"That is indeed troublesome." He lowers himself and stares in my face. "Life has given you many situations to conquer..."
"Understatement..."
"Cynicism?" He almost looks bemused.
"Yes...humans taught me..."
"Humans are resourceful" I nod.
"They are. They don't even bother to mask that they don't like me...like 'they' do..."
"They...elaborate."
"Vulcans. They look at me, know who I am, tolerate me...ignore me."
"Perhaps your perspective is blurred."
"Ask any Vulcan...I am tolerated. Put me in a group of Vulcans and I stand out like a candle burning..."
"You are more troubled then expected...T'Lar..." From nowhere she appears.
"I shall be left alone together with Saavik for unknown time, tell the Captain and his party, he can leave, leave together with them to the planet and leave one vessel behind. She will come home when she is ready."
Like I cared...I am quite comfortable here, thank you very much, ... no one to judge me, all but a ghost...and he did not seem to be bad company...
"Yes Honoured one..." And off she goes...bye-bye...at this moment I am leaning against the coffin. My back hurts still from that fall in the school of T'Plana-Hath...my face flushed from the crying.
For hours we talk, and talk...and talk...about my life, my perspectives, my wishes...and more. What I thought, my opinions, my own made rules, the prejudice I had against Vulcans and vice-versa...he got to know me, I got to know him...and he LOVED debates...Like my hatred against the Romulans, or the Klingons...how humans are, their behaviour...
Our conclusion on them? They are as illogical as they come, but needed for progress. For both sides. For Vulcans to learn to tolerate and apply IDIC, for the Humans to learn and to keep themselves in check. I can live with that conclusion.
"I am nobody...I am what Spock makes me..."
"Not true, you make yourself, you make your own choices."
"No...he makes me in whatever he want. I am too dependant on him...when he died...I fell apart..."
"Perhaps..."
"I know so..."
"Then you are making progress."
"No...I am in a circle, I shall not come out of that..."
"That, Saavik, is the reason you are here, I called you here..." Suddenly I sit straight. What?
"Indeed...I called you here. When you landed on this moon, I could sense you were very confused. So...I led you to that cave. Only you were drawn correct?" I nod. "The others, they needed no aid. You did. You yourself , put it further in motion. You could have delivered the box to the museum. You did not." Okay...what ever...
"So, are we just talking here?"
"No...follow me..." I did. He leads me to a wall, urges me to push a stone. A secret passage. Together we descend.
"Now undress yourself and put these ceremonial robes on." I blink...what the...but I find myself unbuttoning my uniform and putting on the white robe of the priestesses. He urges me now to untie my hair, I do. He is the father of fathers right? So...I just comply.
"Not many know this, not even T'Lar...this way..." We continue down. My bare feet making no sound on the tiles.
"Nirak made this for those in the biggest need, like you. He suspected that troubled souls from the separation would come for aid. He was correct."
We now enter a very...em...spacious room, with two beds. Actually the only thing there. Except from the huge gem in the ceiling. And I can almost see something technical there...interesting...
"It is a device Saavik...still the scientist I believe..." I nod. My first shock now gone. And a little more curiosity piqued.
"Lay down on that bed...Nirak? One in need for your care.... I shall see you soon my child..." And...he left...he turned around and leaves me...A bit bewildered I turn around on my axle. This is not...I am so confused...In the back I see a shadow.
"He tends not to explain allot..." A soft voice, very comforting...
"Who..."
"My name is Nirak...his Pupil...your bound to have read my message in one of the boxes."
"I...I...did.."
"Good...allow me to explain...the same happened to me as with my mentor. My pupil in her turn, placed me here. After that, she designed a machine that could make a humanoid form, as you can see me now." I see him walking towards me and he is touching my face.
"I can touch you, as you can touch me...that was the improvement..." His eyes are almost black, his hair too, like he died in his prime... "My mentor gives me the ones with emotional problems, not the ones in need of clarification of his doctrine...Emotions are my department...so to speak..."
"Em...this was not my intention...I only found a box and then..." Now he places a finger on my mouth.
"Ssst...calm yourself...next to the fact that I am his pupil, I also am and was, his friend. He trusts me to help you..."
"But..."
"You...Saavikam...need to be loved. That, is something you never experienced. And the Vulcans of now, are far to evolved to show it. That makes me proud of the accomplishments of my mentor, but also saddening that persons like you suffer." A lone tear escapes my eyes.
"A beautiful lady...with so much pain...with a bad start like that. No wonder Spock is drawn to you." At this moment, I say nothing more. He is right....it is like he can see right through me.
"Come..." He points at the beds. I follow. I lay myself down. Actually, quite comfortable...
"I will do some...things...perhaps unnerving, but needed. Trust me." Hmm, trust a 3000 year old ghost...what the hey...what can happen...well I soon figure that out, will I.
A small thud and I see him on the bed next to me. Above us the machine begins to move...eek? Two light beams fall upon us and I start to feel drowsy...very...sleepy... Hands pick me up, move me about. No... not moving me about, mind-melt...Whaaaaahhhhh, no permission given!!!!!
"N...no...per...."
"Sttt...trust me...all will be well..." Again that soft and calm voice. "All will be alright..."
And I float...and float...and walls are no longer up...all my careful build walls, are none existent. And, as usual with mind-melts, I am undressed. So was he...he was there, in my mind, watching my experiences and pain. He sorts them, at least, so it seems. I am in a golden bubble. Not able to stop him. Neither do I want too. Let him do it, I am tired...so drowsy...
"So much confusion my sweet..." Sweet? Now that is an emotion. Before I know it, he is right in front of me. He touches my face, such warm hands, and I float still...hard to keep my eyes open... He strokes me, on my face, calming me, and I find, that I am so calm... He does this for, I don't know how long... And then...I wake. On the bed...Feeling refreshed. Fully in control.
"Nirak!!!" It is out of my mouth before I can stop it.
"Yes?" He sits on a chair next to my bed.
"I...different.."
"My doing, all is in place now. As it should. I have made barriers around certain experiences. You shall never remember them again. Neither shall you be troubled. You are a sensual woman Saavik, the man that will be your mate, shall be honoured to have you."
"That...cannot be, for others I am not wanted. What can I give them then?" Surak appears out of nowhere. Very unnerving....
"That, Saavikam...you discuss with my mentor.." With a hand salute he leaves the room. But...?
And indeed, during my meals, during my dreams....my walks about the compound...except when I meditated. I have lost my complete track of time so I cannot tell you the day.
"It is time to leave..." Surak walks to me and urges me to rise. I do.
"So soon..." I am feeling save, wanted...I do not wish to leave...
"Indeed, you are ready to face the worlds yet again. With what you learned, you now have to do in practice." I knew this day would come...
"How long have I..."
"5 Months, 3 days." Dumbfounded I am rooted on the floor. 5 MONTHS?
"I see...I thank you for all your wisdom..."
"It was an honour to me as well, you taught me the way of this century as well..."
"I now understand the teachings...they always try to explain...but never fully did I understand..."
"I am here to clarify..."
"I know..." With sad eyes I gaze around, and yes, he is there as well...the one person in the universe that understands me...the real me...the complete me. Nirak...
"Nirak..."
"No need for words, I know...and the answer is yes.... And do no forget your task..." At ease I now bid my farewell and take the shuttle to Vulcan. I land it near Sarek's house. Now I realise that I am so quiet inside...but Nirak told me to do a task...the boxes.
The next few days I write letters, place them, the artefacts and the letters, back in the boxes and return them to the Temple. They would place them in other places. For others to be found.
Everyone was pleased to see me, all curious. I would not say a word, not even to Spock or Sarek. That was my secret.
The question for Nirak? I once told him, that I loved him and the question if he loved me too...now he answered...I feel loved, wanted, and all is in place now...by four boxes...I decide here and now to return to StarFleet. I have places to see, people to speak...so little time...But then again... time is just something we have invented, to live by... I zip my tea as I look outside, in the night, to the moon of Surak and Nirak...So close...and yet so far... Perhaps we shall meet again...who shall know... right now. I have other things! Live.
End.
"Saavikam??? Are you alright???" Spock called down.
"Yes...only my back hurts, what WAS that..."
"You triggered a safety mechanism...hidden under the sand. It made a opening which you fell in..."
"Really...hmm...could someone aid me out?" I turn around and see in the skull of skeleton. Nice... "And I would prefer some HASTE?" This was not amusing... A ladder was lowered and I ascended it. In a minute I stood next to Spock and Sarek again. Shish.
"It seems that there are traps everywhere." Sarek...
"Nice observation...how do we solve it then..." I was beginning to get annoyed.
"Father...the walls, they display some text." All three stare at it now. I cannot read that. It's too ancient. Sarek tries to, and Spock seems to 'read' it?
"Spock?"
"A moment please....Ah, hmm..." He can read Traditional Gollic Vulcan???
"I see...and I understand...." Sarek and I meet each others eyes. HUH?
"Yet again, a riddle...listen... From the dawn of time, security can be found, follow the path of logic, and you shall find the right way."
"Which means???" My comment...
"It means, that we have to apply logic before we can get to that box." DUH...
"My son, I was not aware of the fact you could read ancient Vulcan."
"I learned it after my refusion, T'Lar was of great help." A bit baffled Sarek and I stare at him.
"It was at my request. There were texts on the walls during my recovery. I could not understand them, so she translated it. After that, I decided to study the language." With an 'Oh sure you did.' Glare, I look at the box. So close....so close...
"Very well, logic tells us that you could walk without effort. For a mere box, does not need that much protection." Sarek's words. "The school was already protected, and enjoyed the status of save grounds." Ah...okay.
"Want to know my point of view?" Two pairs of eyes stare at me.
"My logic, and stay with me on this one, tells me, we don't need logic because they tell us to use logic. Then logic tells me, don't use it, logically it's a method of keeping me back. because it's a trap...does that make sense?"
I scratch my head. That was a sentence I could, and would not, repeat again...I kind off lost track of it myself see....
"For example, a compulsive liar, who tells you he always lies, lies...BUT, if he always lies, how can you be sure he does lie, because he never speaks the truth.... See?" Two blinking eyes...sigh...
"The walls and the paper tell us to use logic, logic says that you can walk without problems, which I can contradict...a look at my back is enough proof" I stare at Sarek
"So...the 'advise' is flawed, so in theory, we have to walk around it...correct?" I look for a confirmation. Slowly Sarek nods.
"Saavikam, I agree..." And suddenly both look at me expectantly...huh?
"Not me, Spock can do it. You and I walked through deserts and caves...and I fell down that hole. His turn."
Both Sarek and me gaze at Spock who walks away. In a big circle (how illogical) he nears the box. After 5 minutes, he grabs it, and takes the same path back. Suddenly the soil under his feet gave way and like me, he is stuck in a hole, about four meters deep.
"Your theory, Saavikam...is flawed..."
"It is not, I was merely stating the way TO the box, not the way back..." I almost laugh as Sarek, once again, grabs the ladder to free his son out the hole.
As Spock climbs up, I take the box. After he is out, we gather around the box.
"Okay, I know how to open it." Again I take the Box, hold it a bit high, and drop it. eager we watch it fall and...it stays closed. Aw? I try again, and again...no success...drat. "Well, it worked the first and the second time..."
"How crude a method..." Sarek and I steal glances and return it to Spock. It said 'So what? It opened?' He sighs a bit and examines the box. Exact copy of the other two. "It needs a key."
"Any suggestion where we can find a fitting key from the year 450?" I almost snarl. No key...tried master key when box two fell in it's lock. No success.
"A museum?" Spock and I look at each other, then to Sarek.
"To a museum we go then..." Spock replies and takes 'my' box. Together we walk to the exit, though the weapon hall and outside. The priestess closes the door and promised us that she would tend to the newly found hall. With it's traps.
Only two hours later we enter the museum of National History. Box in Spock's hands. We decided to have some lunch first. The curator is awaiting us. Welcoming us and showing us to a, for visitors, closed area.
"My name Sudek. Here are all the keys from the period of 450-500. If I find more, I shall bring them here as soon as I can." He hands Sarek a three pouches that contained keys. After that, he leaves us be. We scatter them on the table and sort them out. The big ones shall not fit anyway, so discarding them was a nice start.
In total, there were 342 keys. Each take 100 and take turns to fit them in. No one fitted. We are now down to the last 42. They are divided, and don't fit. Sudek returns with four more pouches. 1034 keys now. None fits. A secretary emerges from the door, she brings 3 pouches, no luck either.
The table is now covered with keys. All sorted by size and design. Sorting them was obviously not a prime task of the museum. They were interested in the box though. Well, that made four that were.
Late in the evening, well past closing hours, Sudek came once more. In his arms a huge box with the biggest collection of keys I ever saw.
"We found them misplaced. They stood with the year 1200 to 1500. I do expect you shall find the fitting key now." He places it on the table, steals a glance from the sorted keys on the table and leaves to go home.
04:00 Vulcan time...
"FOUND IT...." I exclaim almost ecstatic. All tired, all with sorted keys and fed up. Well, I was. All huddle around the box. I open it, and it's stacked with papers. HUH?????? What the...I never saw so many papers...parchments. Very, very old...
Spock takes a few and pages through them, Sarek and I join.
"Spock, some are written in Standard Vulcan, not Traditional.." Sarek replies.
"Indeed, let us divide the papers then, Saavik, take the Standard, Father, the Ancient Vulcan, I shall take the Traditional Gollic." All nod, all sort, all read.
08:00... museum opens...
"I am hungry, I shall return shortly with breakfast..." And I am. I have been reading all night. Well, ever since 04:00...
"Proceed, we shall be here when you return." Spock replies. So...I fetch some breakfast and beverages. This shall take days to decipher.
Sudek comes by every now and then, fascinated by our discovery. He reads some documents as well and becomes more and more interested. We declined his offer of joining us. After the promise we will inform him of our progress.
After three weeks of reading we come to the following conclusion. This quest, is about Surak, that, we knew. BUT, they never found his remains. His students and trustees have hidden it. His family declined cremating it after he was murdered. So...we are on the trail to finding his remains now.
It seems that his trustees were concerned about his body, martyr status was not desired, neither a tomb to honour him. So... they hid it. Leaving clues for the faithful. Us.. well, it was many centuries later, but still...
A small life story, a biography, and how he was killed, what he had done for the planet, the huge task he fulfilled. Nothing new. However. In one on the stacks of Sarek, we found clue number four.
At a planet, far and yet close, the master shall lay, in peace as was his doctrine. He rests with his head warm, his feet cold. His heart full with his teachings. When the sun closes to a halt, the signal has been set.
Nirak of Vulcan, honoured student of Surak.
"Sarek, Nirak was one of his prized students if I am correct..." Spock...
"Correct, Nirak was also the one that underwent the Fal-Tor-Pan...it was so far back in time, that we all thought of it as a myth. He was killed by Sudoc himself but was resurrected."
I shiver. Sudoc was a tyrant, he managed to get almost the entire planet in his grasp. Perhaps the most skilled telepath ever. He ruled by it, causing death and fear amongst all who opposed him. Only Shi-Kar managed to defy him. A war of almost 200 years....
"His head warm, his feet cold, his heart filled with his teachings..." I muse. "He is on a planet, far...and yet close. But where..." Spock and I meet eyes.
"Enterprise....the star charts..." In no time we are walking in the corridors. Papers in hand, Spock with the box, I with the artefacts. In the box was also a small amulet. The first sign of IDIC.
"Spock...what a surprise..." Captain James T Kirk. Walks from the turbo-lift.
"Greetings Captain."
"I thought...Ambassador, you are loosing papers..." I see him picking up some and hands it back to him.
"Thank you Captain, we come to solve a problem." Amused and curious he looks at Sarek. Oh, do ignore me...
"Really? What kind?"
"A riddle, His head warm, his feet cold, his heart filled with his teachings. On a planet far and yet close." Well, that made Kirk think.
"Emmm, who is?"
"The man that concern the riddle sir." Spock replies.
"Ah...well...head warm, feet cold...moon? When the moon turns, his head will be in a sun his feet in the shadow. I do not know about the heart part." We nod. "BUT, also another planet which has snow for instance. Sun in the summer, snow in the winter. Hot, cold." We sigh a bit.
"Sir, if I may, On Vulcan there is no snow. Neither in the surrounding planets." That got his attention.
"I know Saavik...nice to have you onboard..." I give a little smile. For him only... I suddenly freeze.
"Spock...I got it..." Surprised and a bit alarmed the three men gaze at me.
"His head warm, his feet cold, his heart filled with his teachings, heart filled with teachings, he teaches logic. The place to do that is Gol, if we can pinpoint the temple, we have to go to that moon, or planet...or does that sound illogical..."
They shake their heads. We go to the astrophysics room and begin counting. It takes us three days to count back to the year 400. Then we pinpoint Gol. Easy enough. Then a map overview of the nearby planets. And...there is was. Only one moon. Not fair actually. The same moon I found clue one.
Enterprise was ready to make a short testrun, so we could hitch a ride to the moon. By that time, we have informed Kirk of our little quest. He was most interested.
All four beamed down, with one bonus...McCoy...party of five.
"Now then, Bones...what are you doing...?" The doctor was gazing around.
"Well Jim, usually you can't breath on a moon now yah can...so...I am doing a test...imagine that. Just go on?"
"Captain Kirk, if I may, the sun is on our south, the shadow to the north, have you pinpointed it's location?" Sarek was getting really enthusiastic now. So was I, and I just KNEW, Spock was as well.
"A moment ambassador...Kirk to Sulu, do you have the co-ordinates?"
-Yes sir, about 2 kilometres to the west.-
"Thank you mister Sulu, Kirk out, well lets walk...coming Bones?"
"Yeah-yeah..."
after a walk we arrive at a cliff formation. There were many...many openings...rigghttttt...which one? We all stare at each other. Now what...
"Jim...the riddle said When the sun closes to a halt, the signal has been set. Wait until the sun sets on Vulcan, then you know the right cave." So...we wait. About an hour. The sun indeed set and one cave stood out like a candle. All five climb up. After a climb of ten minutes we arrive at our destination. We entered and walked in.
Suddenly McCoy...
"JIM, the entrance..." We all turn in union as a huge rock falls down. After the dust clears we see that the entrance is completely blocked.
"Captain, and you encounter this, with every mission?" Sarek...
"Well ambassador...not all the time, but often...Sulu, can you receive me?"
-Loud and clear sir...-
"Good, cave collapsed. Make sure you have a lock on us."
-yes sir...-
"Well one good thing, we are at the right cave..." Kirk...
"Indeed sir.." Spock...
After a walk for about 1 hour we come a small hall. Again, writing on the wall. Spock is already reading it.
"It says: walk to fast, you will fall, walk too slow, you will meet your downfall. Follow the light."
"..." No comment on my part.
"Spock, there is no light here..." McCoy...
"Correct doctor, however, there are more things that can create light. Like insight, or a clear mind."
"Rightttt, Bones, does the tricorder work?" I see the doctor vaguely.
"No Jim, interference..."
"Damn...the path is too small for more then one person, I'll go first." I see him, confident, walk forwards. Big mistake. Suddenly a 'click' and a whoosh. And before we know, Kirk has an arrow in his thigh. Quickly he scurries back and McCoy treats his wound.
"Not poisoned...your lucky...how can you just 'walk in'..." McCoy scolding...as usual.
"Sounded like a good idea. Just text on a wall Bones...ouchhhhh....."
"Spock, is there more to be read?" Me...
"Searching...yes. In torches you shall find the solution." So, I use my phaser to make a torch. They were as kind as to hang a few at the entrance.
Carefully I walk forwards, holding the torch in front of me, as I look at the ground, I see something shimmer. I bend down and remove some soil. A little piece of a gem. how ingenious.
I walk forward until I am half way. I turn and signal the other to follow, they do. In no time we all are safely at the other side. A small pair of stairs is leading us deeper.
"Wow...exciting...now what." McCoy...who is helping Kirk to walk.
"Now, we read again Doctor. Spock? I found some texts again." Sarek..
"Yes father...it reads: opposites.
"Opposites? Of what?" Kirk...
As we look around we observe stone cubes. Some with a moon, others with a star or sun. Odd thing is, one star is white with a black background. Another block is a black star with a white background. Also, there are six pillars. In each pillar a small alcove with a block. Three pillars on each side.
"Ah, Jim, I know, opposites. The black background vs. the white one." All in agreement we now place the blocks opposite from each other. After 5 minutes we hear a scuffling sound. We gaze around and see an opened door. Interesting. We proceed down.
"A bridge?" Sarek...
On the bridge are figures. Similar to those on the cubes.
"Opposites again?" Kirk...
"That would be too obvious..." Sarek...
"There are no texts to be read either." Spock...
"There are figures on the walls.." Me...
All gaze around and indeed. All the figures are to be seen. The light coming from small openings in the ceiling.
"All the figures are indeed present, all but one..." Sarek... I agree. All but one...
"The one with the sign of Gol." Spock...
"Then logical speaking...follow the sign of Gol then..." McCoy...
And...we do. And don't fall. Well, Kirk almost does. He lost his balance and stepped on a star-sign. All due to his wound. We are able to help him up again. He is not amused.
"Well then...a closed door." Me...
"There is some text here..." Spock... "Completion of the quest, learn and wonder, the master rests here. Honour him, and think of his teachings. Questions are soon to be answered." I lean against a wall. This quest was getting more and more unnerving. What if we all do find him...that would stir the planet. I slip and fall on my butt. Suddenly the door opens. Am I getting clumsy? No, not clumsy. My own fault. I lean against a wall...I fall. End of conclusion.
We all gaze inside. A round room with a small dais. On the dais, a coffin. Like on the boxes. On the walls are drawings. Also, like on the boxes. A Huge IDIC symbol in vibrant colours on the marble floor. Not a piece of dust to be seen. Candlesticks with...new?...candles burning. As do we smell incense. On the coffin, a banner with the Vulcan crest. As if it is washed yesterday instead of more then 3000 years ago...something can't be right.
"Well done, children of Vulcan and Earth..." I am baffled and taken aback. WHAT???? There is a person here? Who...where...Instinct makes me grab the phaser.
"Come forward..." We do, ever so careful. Suddenly I see on another small dais...I almost faint. T'Lar?
"We, are the guardians of Surak, for ages past...Thy has solved the riddles of Vulcan's father...thy shall be rewarded."
"T'Lar..." Sarek bows slightly, as I just gape. This is not the way I have planned it at all...how...huh?
"Greetings Sarek, Spock, Kirk, McCoy and the child that started this quest...Saavik...come forward child..." I freeze. No...nonononono....I was just playing a game here.
This is getting out of hand. I just found that box in that cave and just followed the leads... Still...my feet do it for me... in no time I am standing before her red robes. I don't even notice the priestesses taking their place at the tomb...I gawk in her face, quickly I recover and close my mouth...unbecoming Saavik...keep your wits together...
"Thou has been treated unfair, judged by thy heritage of ages past. Even if we do judge thy by thy heritage, thou art still Vulcan. For before the separation, we were one." True, no comment there...I am getting nervous...
"Thou has found the clues, solved them, with aid, now thou art rewarded. Learn my child, and gaze in the face of thy only father."
In the back I hear the priestesses removing the stone on the top of the tomb. "Learn, and ask...thou shall find the answer."
I don't even hear T'Lar saying all should leave. All but me. The entire room is empty, all but me...why am I suddenly so popular??? I am just Saavik...half-breed, not wanted...a third wheel...tolerated... And now T'Lar says to me I can look in the face of Surak himself? Ask questions that shall be answered? I never understood the Vulcan mysticism...
"Em...hello?" Only a echo.. nothing more. "What am I supposed to do...walk around in circles? Mediate...die, do nothing? Is it me, or is it getting warm here...I remove my coat and drape it on a bench.
Carefully I walk to the dais, one step, two...three...four...no more? Ah...one more... My feet refuse to work. Keep your logic intact. It's just a coffin with Vulcan remains. A voice in my head... not just any remains, the remains of Surak himself, show respect.... I see a opening.
Ah...naturally, it's a coffin daft. I have a quick flash-back of Spock's coffin...eek...but in there, is not my Mentor...no...the mentor of all Vulcan...nothing more...My nerves are falling apart now...
I lean forward and...see...a face...a robe...a hand...a ring...a body of a man. Perfectly preserved. His face is gentle and almost fatherly.
"So this is the Father of Fathers...the statues do you injustice though. They look barely like you..." I place my hands before my mouth...OOOHHHHHHH....sure...you just see Surak himself and insult his statues...great job...
"Indeed....they tend to do that...." I almost faint or have a heart attack, my body has not decided yet. One of both...I jump in my mind a meter upwards before I can settle my heart rhythm again. SHISH.... I turn around and gaze at the same man as the coffin. I look back, turn around again...and all goes black... When I wake, the man is still standing there ...okay ...Saavik girl...you are seeing a ghost...
"I do have the tendency to make people faint...are you well?" I nod...I can't talk...a lump on my throat takes care of that. SPPOOOCCCKKKKKKKK....
"You completed the task..." Again, I nod. EEK? He walks forwards to me...
"You are filled with questions...ask." Ask? Ask what...how? I am talking to a ghost. In logic, ghosts can't be...impressions of the past...untrue...not real...
"Em...no insult meant...but you are supposed to be dead...sir..."
"Correct, when I was killed, one of my pupils Nirak took my Katra. In death, so he spoke once, I still could serve my people. And, I do.
Questions I answer for those troubled and seeking. Like you. He placed my Katra in a memory stone, far greater then that of Gol, I can appear whenever, and how often I desire. When called upon, I arise from my slumber."
"Ah..." Am I beginning to sweat? Yes...em...I do...so, A memory stone. I know about those. I know that he gives me time to digest this news. He is now so close that I can touch him. Figure of speech. Logic went on a holiday.
"They despise me..." He gives me a glance.
"Who child..."
"All of em..." I break, and cry...great job, master of logic before your nose, and you cry...
"Surely not all.." He stands so calm there and I am breaking apart...
"All, Spock felt 'obligated' to raise me...(Sob) StarFleet wanted my knowledge, (sniff) Romulans created me with rape (sniff) and my bond-mate decided he is too busy with his work so he cancelled the wedding. (whimper) I have almost no friends (sniff)...I have no family...I just...have myself...(sob)" There, I said it...frustration of years.
"That is indeed troublesome." He lowers himself and stares in my face. "Life has given you many situations to conquer..."
"Understatement..."
"Cynicism?" He almost looks bemused.
"Yes...humans taught me..."
"Humans are resourceful" I nod.
"They are. They don't even bother to mask that they don't like me...like 'they' do..."
"They...elaborate."
"Vulcans. They look at me, know who I am, tolerate me...ignore me."
"Perhaps your perspective is blurred."
"Ask any Vulcan...I am tolerated. Put me in a group of Vulcans and I stand out like a candle burning..."
"You are more troubled then expected...T'Lar..." From nowhere she appears.
"I shall be left alone together with Saavik for unknown time, tell the Captain and his party, he can leave, leave together with them to the planet and leave one vessel behind. She will come home when she is ready."
Like I cared...I am quite comfortable here, thank you very much, ... no one to judge me, all but a ghost...and he did not seem to be bad company...
"Yes Honoured one..." And off she goes...bye-bye...at this moment I am leaning against the coffin. My back hurts still from that fall in the school of T'Plana-Hath...my face flushed from the crying.
For hours we talk, and talk...and talk...about my life, my perspectives, my wishes...and more. What I thought, my opinions, my own made rules, the prejudice I had against Vulcans and vice-versa...he got to know me, I got to know him...and he LOVED debates...Like my hatred against the Romulans, or the Klingons...how humans are, their behaviour...
Our conclusion on them? They are as illogical as they come, but needed for progress. For both sides. For Vulcans to learn to tolerate and apply IDIC, for the Humans to learn and to keep themselves in check. I can live with that conclusion.
"I am nobody...I am what Spock makes me..."
"Not true, you make yourself, you make your own choices."
"No...he makes me in whatever he want. I am too dependant on him...when he died...I fell apart..."
"Perhaps..."
"I know so..."
"Then you are making progress."
"No...I am in a circle, I shall not come out of that..."
"That, Saavik, is the reason you are here, I called you here..." Suddenly I sit straight. What?
"Indeed...I called you here. When you landed on this moon, I could sense you were very confused. So...I led you to that cave. Only you were drawn correct?" I nod. "The others, they needed no aid. You did. You yourself , put it further in motion. You could have delivered the box to the museum. You did not." Okay...what ever...
"So, are we just talking here?"
"No...follow me..." I did. He leads me to a wall, urges me to push a stone. A secret passage. Together we descend.
"Now undress yourself and put these ceremonial robes on." I blink...what the...but I find myself unbuttoning my uniform and putting on the white robe of the priestesses. He urges me now to untie my hair, I do. He is the father of fathers right? So...I just comply.
"Not many know this, not even T'Lar...this way..." We continue down. My bare feet making no sound on the tiles.
"Nirak made this for those in the biggest need, like you. He suspected that troubled souls from the separation would come for aid. He was correct."
We now enter a very...em...spacious room, with two beds. Actually the only thing there. Except from the huge gem in the ceiling. And I can almost see something technical there...interesting...
"It is a device Saavik...still the scientist I believe..." I nod. My first shock now gone. And a little more curiosity piqued.
"Lay down on that bed...Nirak? One in need for your care.... I shall see you soon my child..." And...he left...he turned around and leaves me...A bit bewildered I turn around on my axle. This is not...I am so confused...In the back I see a shadow.
"He tends not to explain allot..." A soft voice, very comforting...
"Who..."
"My name is Nirak...his Pupil...your bound to have read my message in one of the boxes."
"I...I...did.."
"Good...allow me to explain...the same happened to me as with my mentor. My pupil in her turn, placed me here. After that, she designed a machine that could make a humanoid form, as you can see me now." I see him walking towards me and he is touching my face.
"I can touch you, as you can touch me...that was the improvement..." His eyes are almost black, his hair too, like he died in his prime... "My mentor gives me the ones with emotional problems, not the ones in need of clarification of his doctrine...Emotions are my department...so to speak..."
"Em...this was not my intention...I only found a box and then..." Now he places a finger on my mouth.
"Ssst...calm yourself...next to the fact that I am his pupil, I also am and was, his friend. He trusts me to help you..."
"But..."
"You...Saavikam...need to be loved. That, is something you never experienced. And the Vulcans of now, are far to evolved to show it. That makes me proud of the accomplishments of my mentor, but also saddening that persons like you suffer." A lone tear escapes my eyes.
"A beautiful lady...with so much pain...with a bad start like that. No wonder Spock is drawn to you." At this moment, I say nothing more. He is right....it is like he can see right through me.
"Come..." He points at the beds. I follow. I lay myself down. Actually, quite comfortable...
"I will do some...things...perhaps unnerving, but needed. Trust me." Hmm, trust a 3000 year old ghost...what the hey...what can happen...well I soon figure that out, will I.
A small thud and I see him on the bed next to me. Above us the machine begins to move...eek? Two light beams fall upon us and I start to feel drowsy...very...sleepy... Hands pick me up, move me about. No... not moving me about, mind-melt...Whaaaaahhhhh, no permission given!!!!!
"N...no...per...."
"Sttt...trust me...all will be well..." Again that soft and calm voice. "All will be alright..."
And I float...and float...and walls are no longer up...all my careful build walls, are none existent. And, as usual with mind-melts, I am undressed. So was he...he was there, in my mind, watching my experiences and pain. He sorts them, at least, so it seems. I am in a golden bubble. Not able to stop him. Neither do I want too. Let him do it, I am tired...so drowsy...
"So much confusion my sweet..." Sweet? Now that is an emotion. Before I know it, he is right in front of me. He touches my face, such warm hands, and I float still...hard to keep my eyes open... He strokes me, on my face, calming me, and I find, that I am so calm... He does this for, I don't know how long... And then...I wake. On the bed...Feeling refreshed. Fully in control.
"Nirak!!!" It is out of my mouth before I can stop it.
"Yes?" He sits on a chair next to my bed.
"I...different.."
"My doing, all is in place now. As it should. I have made barriers around certain experiences. You shall never remember them again. Neither shall you be troubled. You are a sensual woman Saavik, the man that will be your mate, shall be honoured to have you."
"That...cannot be, for others I am not wanted. What can I give them then?" Surak appears out of nowhere. Very unnerving....
"That, Saavikam...you discuss with my mentor.." With a hand salute he leaves the room. But...?
And indeed, during my meals, during my dreams....my walks about the compound...except when I meditated. I have lost my complete track of time so I cannot tell you the day.
"It is time to leave..." Surak walks to me and urges me to rise. I do.
"So soon..." I am feeling save, wanted...I do not wish to leave...
"Indeed, you are ready to face the worlds yet again. With what you learned, you now have to do in practice." I knew this day would come...
"How long have I..."
"5 Months, 3 days." Dumbfounded I am rooted on the floor. 5 MONTHS?
"I see...I thank you for all your wisdom..."
"It was an honour to me as well, you taught me the way of this century as well..."
"I now understand the teachings...they always try to explain...but never fully did I understand..."
"I am here to clarify..."
"I know..." With sad eyes I gaze around, and yes, he is there as well...the one person in the universe that understands me...the real me...the complete me. Nirak...
"Nirak..."
"No need for words, I know...and the answer is yes.... And do no forget your task..." At ease I now bid my farewell and take the shuttle to Vulcan. I land it near Sarek's house. Now I realise that I am so quiet inside...but Nirak told me to do a task...the boxes.
The next few days I write letters, place them, the artefacts and the letters, back in the boxes and return them to the Temple. They would place them in other places. For others to be found.
Everyone was pleased to see me, all curious. I would not say a word, not even to Spock or Sarek. That was my secret.
The question for Nirak? I once told him, that I loved him and the question if he loved me too...now he answered...I feel loved, wanted, and all is in place now...by four boxes...I decide here and now to return to StarFleet. I have places to see, people to speak...so little time...But then again... time is just something we have invented, to live by... I zip my tea as I look outside, in the night, to the moon of Surak and Nirak...So close...and yet so far... Perhaps we shall meet again...who shall know... right now. I have other things! Live.
End.