Chapter Six: Koon-ut

There had only been two times in his life Spock had felt anger as strongly as he did at the moment: When Vulcan was destroyed by Nero and when Jim had died as a result of Khan's machinations. He could feel it in his very veins, hotter than the fires of his Pon Farr. He could not believe that T'Pring would suggest they formally secure their bonds.

It was true they had never properly dissolved the betrothal bond between them. Spock had been too busy with Starfleet to go to Vulcan to have the bond breaking ceremony. It seemed like a pointless formality. T'Pring had wished to bond- had bonded- with Stonn and Spock had wished to bond with Nyota. Spock had not felt any connection with T'Pring in years. It hadn't even occurred to him to wonder if she had survived the destruction of Vulcan.

Nyota was so hot against him. She was burning up with the Plak Tow. If they didn't bond, she would surely perish before the day was out. Even physical intimacy with her would not stave off the symptoms any longer.

Mister Scott had beamed them to the site of Bonding. Spock had not been to the one that had been built on New Vulcan. There was a crowd already there, which went against the Vulcan tradition. Then, usually one was there to meet the bride. He had his arms firmly wrapped around the only woman he planned to bond with that day.

Spock could see Michael standing in front of a crowd of Vulcans. She looked fearsome. He knew his sister to be a formidable opponent and if anyone were threatening him, they would see the full extent of her wrath.

"Does somebody mind telling me what's going on here?" Jim demanded.

The crowd of Vulcans turned towards the new arrivals. Spock saw T'Pring and recognized some of the other faces. Logic Extremists. They had been becoming even more prevalent in the wake of Vulcan's loss. He then set his gaze on T'Pau. "You do not follow these extremists, do you?"

T'Pau raised her chin, as if irritated Spock would dare to ask her anything. "I do not follow anyone. I come to officiate thy Koon-ut-kal-if-fee." She looked over Jim, Leonard and Nyota. "Are our ceremonies for outworlders?"

"They are not outworlders. They are my friends and my sister. I am permitted this." Spock looked down at Nyota. "And this is my bondmate. I will join with her."

T'Pau looked over Nyota critically. "I hast bonded thee to T'Pring, Spock... Not this one."

Spock clutched tighter to Nyota, causing her to whimper slightly. "And yet I felt no draw to T'Pring. I sought only Nyota when my time came. I have begun the bond. She is already in Plak Tow."

"I tried to tell them that!" Michael started to rush forward, but was held back by the Logic Extremists. She pointed an accusatory finger at T'Pring. "You two broke up. Spock told me. You found someone else and so did he! What you're doing is ridiculous! It's illogical!"

"Stonn died on Vulcan," T'Pring's voice was cold and measured. "It is logical for me to bond with the one who was promised to me."

Nyota gave a small cry and clutched tighter to Spock. He looked down at her worriedly. His mind was still clear, but she was falling deeper into the abyss. "Look at her, T'Pring. Nyota is already deep in the blood fever. She will die if I am not bonded to her."

T'Pring remained as still as a statue. "I am Vulcan. We are few. Vulcans must bond to Vulcans. She is human. They are many. She is a grain of sand in the desert. No one will miss her."

"I will," Spock spat through gritted teeth.

T'Pring gestured to Jim and Leonard. "If you wish her to live, there are two who could bond to her."

Spock's grip on Nyota was near crushing, a strong wave of territoriality going over him at the suggestion that either Jim or Leonard touch his K'diwa. "She is mine."

"We were bonded as children. You are not who I want. But you are who remains." T'Pring raised her chin up high. "I do not release you, Spock."

"So what, T'Pring?" Michael spat. She pushed aside the Logic Extremists. "You've joined up with the Logic Extremists? Funny thing for you to do if you're marrying a half-Vulcan. You know they tried to kill him, right?"

"Spock has proven himself worthy to be called Vulcan," one of the Extremists spoke. It was a man Spock recognized as Storik, a leader at the Vulcan Science Academy. "His accomplishments within Starfleet have made him a legend and a credit to our people. The appearance of his elder self gave us insight into what he will do. He has surpassed his flawed heritage."

"Spock would keep Vulcan strong," T'Pring added. "But only if he mates with another Vulcan. This human would introduce more weakness."

"You have no idea who you're talking about," Spock snarled. He was angry on behalf of Nyota, being seen as a lesser. He was angry on his own behalf, being treated like a prize horse put to stud in spite of the deficiencies of his birth.

"Like hell I'm going to let you treat my brother like this!" Michael snapped.

When one of Storik's goons grabbed at Michael again, she punched him in the throat, making him crumple to the ground. "I am a Federation Ambassador. Both Spock and Nyota are citizens of the Federation and members of Starfleet."

When Storik moved towards her, she pulled out her phaser. "And if any of you try to touch me again, I will stun your ass. So please... Try to touch me."

Jim glanced over at Spock. "Hey Spock... I know you've got a lot on your plate right now... But I might be a little in love with your sister."

Spock scowled. "Thank you, Jim. That is remarkably helpful."

Keeping her phaser up, Michael moved to stand by Spock's side. "This is quite a mess, Spock."

"I am aware of that, Michael." Spock buried a hand in Nyota's hair, clutching her to his chest.

McCoy ran his tricorder over Nyota. "Spock, you have to do something. Uhura's cortical readings are spiking. I don't know how much more her body can take."

Spock's heart was pounding. It was not the effects of the Pon Farr, but utter fear. He didn't know what he was supposed to do. He had no idea this would happen. He had thought it would have been so easy for him to bond to Nyota. She had felt like his mate for years. It seemed like just a formality to make the declaration.

"Spock," Michael's voice was even. She put a hand on his face, making him look at her. There was a fierceness in her eyes. "Look at me. You have to take care of Nyota. That's the most important thing. That means you have to break off the engagement to T'Pring."

Spock looked down at his sister, glad she was there, but also wishing she was giving him better advice. "And how am I supposed to do that?"

She shook her head sadly. "There's only one way, Brother. You know that."

Spock felt panic. He looked down at Nyota. She was still shaking in his arms, sweat heavy on her brow. "I can't do that."

"You have to!" Michael snapped. "It's the only way. You and T'Pring are still bound. You have to follow the law. You have to challenge."

"Nyota will die," Spock pointed out.

Michael gestured to Nyota. "Look at her, Spock. She'll die anyway. At least give her a chance."

Spock's heart was pounding, the blood rushing in his ears. But he felt the hand grasping at his tunic. "Spock."

He looked down. Nyota was looking up at him. She nodded her head. He knew that she understood what the challenge meant. He pressed his forehead to hers. "You'll die, Nyota."

Nyota trembled. "Do it."

Spock nodded and raised his head. He squeezed his eyes shut, shouting. "Kal-if-fee!"

All eyes turned to Spock. He let go of Nyota. She forced herself to stand up. She nodded to him once again.

T'Pau arched a brow at Spock. "No man has ever challenged."

Spock nodded, walking toward T'Pau. "I have always been known for doing what was thought unthinkable. I refuse T'Pring's bond. If she wishes to have me, she must fight for me."

"What's going on?" Kirk hissed.

Michael was still glowered at the extremists, her phaser held up. "Koon-ut-kal-if-fee means marriage or challenge. Spock's chosen to challenge. T'Pring has to fight for the right to marry Spock. Fight Nyota."

T'Pau nodded her head slowly. "Very well. Thee has chosen the kal-if-fee, the challenge. Thee are prepared to become the property of the victor?"

Spock looked to Nyota. He didn't know if she would be able to fight. But it was their only chance. "I am prepared."

He was prepared, but not in the way T'Pau intended. If Nyota were killed, he would kill himself before bonding with T'Pring. She would not have him. He wouldn't marry his K'diwa's murderer.

T'Pau now looked to T'Pring. "T'Pring does thee accept the challenge according to our laws and customs?"

T'Pring seemed to hesitate for a moment. She then looked to the Logic Extremists. After a long moment, she nodded her head.

Spock held his hands together, walking away from T'Pau. "As it was in the dawn of our days, as it is today, as it will be for all tomorrows, I make my choice. This one." He pointed to Nyota.

The tremble seemed to leave Nyota at Spock's pronouncement. She raised her head and met his eyes. He saw the fire burning there. It was not the Plak Tow, but the bravery that had played such a part in him falling in love with her. The newly commissioned cadet who had challenged him to put her on the Enterprise. The brave Lieutenant who had subdued Khan for him. The woman he had gone to rescue from Krall, who had saved him instead.

T'Pau turned to Nyota. "Our laws and customs are not binding on thee, human. Thee are free to decline. To mate with one of the humans instead."

Nyota held out her hand, silently asking for her weapon.

T'Pau nodded. "Here begins the act of combat for possession of the man, Spock. As it was at the time of the beginning, so it is now. Bring forth the lirpa."

One of the logic extremists handed Nyota a lirpa. He glared at Spock. "You will bring no more human blood into our species, halfbreed."

T'Pau ignored the comment from the Extremist. "If both survive the lirpa, combat will continue with the ahn woon."

Kirk held up a hand. "Wait... What? What do you mean 'survive'?"

Michael pulled both Kirk and McCoy back. "The Kal-If-Fee is a fight to the death."

Kirk pointed to Nyota. "That's my Communications Officer! She can't be in a fight to the death. Burnham, you have to do something!"

"This is Vulcan Tradition," Michael pointed out. "I have to respect the ways of this culture. And Nyota agreed to it."

"She's not in her right mind," McCoy countered. "T'Pring is. Plus she's got Vulcan strength."

Spock bowed his head. "I would not bet against Nyota."

Kirk nodded. "Oh, so instead of a dead communications officer, I'll have one that just committed murder. Just peachy."

"It's the way it has to be," Michael said with a sigh.

"Making Uhura have a deathmatch over the Hobgoblin's dick," McCoy scowled. "Yeah, real logical people those Vulcans."