On a view screen hidden beneath the veneer of a Louis XVI desk, Perrin watched one of Sarek's speeches during the debates. He was questioning an Andorian delegate on his views.
"Andoria might find the regulations in and of themselves insulting but based on the events on Fereginar, the Federation must take this time to look into whether its representatives are safe."
"Do you not trust us? We were one of the founding species of the federation, green skin!" Shouted an Andorian standing in the center of the Federation Council Chambers.
"Your vulgar nicknames do little to support your case, Shukar." Replied Sarek bluntly. The video ended there, the screen blinking back to a library of clips from the recent debates stored in the Federation's public files. She'd already gone through a few, starting with clips from after she was taken to Paris. Finishing those quickly and finding no real information on what had occurred the day she was attacked, she had started looking at the clips concerning Sarek.
Perrin hated to even think it, seeing him speak before hundreds of skilled diplomats and being above them all in talent, but she still believed the Vulcan was concerned for her as she'd been taken from the dorms. She tapped the screen back to it façade as an ordinary desk, and went to sit on the edge of her bed. Leaning against one of the post of the ornate bed frame helped wipe away some of her stress at not knowing what would happen next or where she was.
Perrin had some idea that she might in the President's Executive Offices, about a quarter mile from the Effiel Tower, which appeared close by from the view of her room. There would be no chance of running into any non-Federation or Starfleet personnel beyond the President's own family here. Anyone she appealed to and had appealed was first and foremost concerned with his or her place on the chain of command. She pushed it all away a burst of disgust.
A few hours passed as she considered what she might do. Replicators—programmed to limit what Perrin could request—and an on suite bathroom saw to it that she spent most of her time without anyone coming in. She could request someone over the com but outside of that, it had been rare over the last four days for anyone to come in. Playing her violin, practicing for a concert on Risa that would have or might still wrap up her tour with Darrin and the others, limited Perrin growing restlessness but not enough. Perrin soon found rearranging the furniture to be more relaxing than sitting around. She moved a large wardrobe out of the way of the sunlight; it created a slim shadow at night that appeared like someone standing in the corner of the room. The rest of the decorative pieces she pushed into a closet.
Music was pleasant but rearranging everything gave a sense of control over her circumstances Perrin desperately wanted.
"I rather liked those paintings." An older Trill man who she recognized as the President looked disappointed to see none of the paintings, clocks, and such originally filling out the room. He passed Perrin and sat himself in a stuffed lounge chair facing the French windows.
"You can have your staff put them back when I leave." She responded careful to keep a little of her annoyance in her voice. The President sighed in response. She noticed the spots along his temples stood out a lot more than they generally did on most Trills. Sunlight coming in brought out a waxy look to his skin.
"I hope you don't believe you will be leaving anytime soon; you shouldn't work yourself up." He stated.
"And I hope we aren't going the way of Romulans." Perrin stood straight and marched over to him. "Give me an explanation for why I must stay or let me go."
"It's classified. You should understand that from your father." Replied the President, coldly. Perrin turned away.
It had been years since anyone made the connection between her and her father, Ambassador Reynard Landover. It was not the Federation's policy to mention family members in relation to diplomatic scandals. Perrin had also rarely listed her real last name, instead using her mother's maiden name. A flush of shame hit her with the reminder of her father.
"In any case, I'm here because my staff could not tell me the last time anyone checked up on you; it was two days ago." He pointed to her eyes. "You don't look well. I can have a therapist come in an talk with you—"
"No; I am fine." Perrin gritted her teeth. She wanted him gone.
The President looked her over and nodded. He left, the spots on his skin looking even starker than when he first came in.
Sarek wore his heaviest cloak though the human man next to him wore just the usual Starfleet outfit with only a thin Captain's jacket thrown over it. The river running beneath them, hidden by the bridge, added to the coldness of the morning and the sun had not yet escaped the low clouds on the horizon.
"I can't believe that runt—on like that in front of you!" the man barked.
"Captain Anthony, it was a temporary misconception on your son's part. I believe it has been corrected." Replied Sarek.
"I hope so. I hope so. Welp, she should be there." Captain Anthony pointed to a towering building, the President's Executive Offices, near the end of the bridge.
"Though boy, I sometimes feel like having another kid the way he carries on like the King of England!" Anthony huffed. "If I'm not being a nuisance Ambassador, you ever plan to marry again, have another kid?"
"Are you suggesting Spock was a mistake?"Anthony looked alarmed at Sarek's reply.
"Oh no, not at all. He's one of starlet's finest. I was just making conversation; ignore me." But Sarek decided to answer his question.
"I also find Spock's accomplishments satisfactory. And marriage has already, in him, completed its purpose for me; there is no logical reason to for me to remarry."
Both men continued in silence, parting at the statue that marked the main entrance to the building. Anthony settled himself on the rim of its widen base, studying the figure at the center holding scales. Sarek glanced at him with curiosity as he went in.
He was shown right away to the President's private meeting room. A few Trill tapestries covered the walls and both an Earth and a Trill piano filled up the unused space in the left of the room. Sarek moved to a low couch facing a single padded chair. The president came in shortly thereafter and sat there across from Sarek. He had a PADD in one hand, and Sarek could make out that it was his proposal for an all Vulcan post on Excalibia.
"I have come on a separate matter." The President looked up, placing the PADD on a low shelf behind him.
"Oh?"
"You are holding a human woman here." The Trill laughed in response.
"I'm surprised you're indulging conspiracy theorist, Ambassador Sarek."
"Perrin Landover. I had little reason to believe the information was not true as it came from one who escorted her here personally." Countered Sarek. Noting the Trill's change from light to serious at her name confirmed his suspicions.
"What are you aware of concerning her?"
"I am aware that she is currently the only witness to a group of Algean intruders during the debates 4 days and 13 hours ago. She has not been sighted since that event." Answered Sarek.
The president stared vacantly at Sarek for a while, tapping his fingers on the armrest. Sarek noted some hesitation in his expression. The President bit on his lip as he continued considering what Sarek had told him. Finally, he spoke.
"Yes, she is here. But this is the best place for her to be, for hers and the Federation's safety Ambassador Sarek."
"I must challenge that statement, Mr. President. Vulcan will be the safest place to be for Ms. Landover; it is unexpected, well guarded, and any off-worlders will be easy to identify."
"Sarek," the President held up his hands, "why do you care about all this? Was she related to Amanda?" Upon mentioning her name, he looked apologetic. Sarek ignored it.
"I know of her father from negotiations with the Legarians. He has asked to me look after her. As a personal favor."
The President considered this. "Vulcan would be ideal." He consented.
"I have heard there will be a meeting with the Algean government here in Paris concerning the recent fighting. There are those that would find it a suitable cover to harm Perrin in some way." This statement by Sarek resolved the President's concern.
"I had been thinking about that as well; well, you can take her to Vulcan but I will insist on a security team being assigned to her."
"Nothing that will attract attention." Replied Sarek.
"No, no. I'll see if I we can make sure they're all Vulcan too."
"That would be logical."
One of the Federation's public files concerning Tim Valor's appointment as Head of The Federation Bureau of Planetary Treaties covered the top of the desk as Perrin hadn't deactivated the viewscreen. She had opened one of the windows to drag her fingers across the force field just beyond where the glass was, at a stalemate with where to move a wide bookcase so that it didn't offset the bed and chairs. A static cloud of violet sparks danced where her fingers traced. Perrin was staring down now at a Starfleet captain who had been flicking the marble legs of a statue for the last thirty minutes or so not noticing her when he did occasionally look up. She hadn't seen where he came from just that when she came back from replicating a fresh batch of mint tea he was there. Sipping it lightly, she considered how to get out.
Perhaps I could call Dr. McCoy, she thought. But as with an earlier consideration of her father or his former chief of staff, she swept away the thought with the rise of old memories thinking of them brought.
Surely the problem is that I do not know why I am here at all, Perrin thought. That it was in relation to the intruders was something she'd considered but as she couldn't even place the species, Perrin did not know how to appeal that letting her go was no danger. She buried her face in the shawl she'd thrown over her shoulders, nearing the bottom of her will to continue believing she could turn the situation around.
"May I enter?" Sarek's voice came from the hall outside her room. Perrin was shocked but also greedy for someone whom might take her side in things. She thought again of him following through the crowds after her.
"Oh yes, please do Ambassador. " Perrin went to the door.
Sarek had taken off his cloak and had it in his hand. When he entered, he laid it on the desk, blotting out the image of Valor that Perrin realized she'd been avoiding glancing at since she'd brought up the video. His clothes were a lot simpler then she'd seen him wear up to that point. He still wore the heavy pendant that rested over all his outfits but it didn't overwhelm the deep blue suit he had on today. The top looked almost like a shawl with its stiff folds along his waist.
Sarek stood with his hands folded and an expression that offered nothing in the way of his intentions.
"Sarek." Perrin caught herself. "Ambassador Sarek, I am not sure if you are aware of what is going on here but please—"
"I am aware that you are being kept here as a safety measure." His wording disappointed her. She began to look away.
"Let me assuage your fears; I do not believe your staying here will ultimately be safe. I will take you to Vulcan, if you will allow it."
"How will I spend my stay there; in a similarly locked room?" Perrin proudly asked. Sarek's arrival was becoming more of the same. Reason, she began to chant the word in her mind; Vulcans were perhaps the only species a rational argument had total sway over. She focused on his response.
Sarek shifted his eyes towards the wallpaper. "You will not find such chaotic motifs anywhere on Vulcan." He paused. "Logical precautions will have be taken but there is no need for total confinement nor isolation." At that, Perrin looked at her shirt and smoothed it down. The action was neutral enough to keep her relief at bay. Her respect for Sarek had not been misplaced, she thought happily. She admitted her temporary worry and considered what to do next.
