Part ii- Fall Interlude

Blackbird singing in the dead of night,
Take these sunken eyes and learn to see
all your life, you were only waiting for this moment to be free

The timing could not have been more perfect with Thanksgiving break occurring just as her grandmother was invited to speak at the Federation Conference on Sentient Rights in Geneva. She might miss the home cooked turkey dinner, but in the 3 years since she had graduated, Amanda had not been back to her old school, and she had thought that this would have been a chance to revisit fond memories. She had imagined a happy reunion with some of the remaining under-classmates she had tutored and saw herself being welcomed with open arms by her favorite teachers. But the under-classmates were now tutors themselves; few even remembered her. And the teachers, even her Beloved Madame Valois, had little or no time for a returning lamb. They had opened the door to the world for her and evidently did not expect for her to return. The halls echoed with the her footsteps and left her with nothing more.

So here she was, alone on a warm November Sunday. Sunday had always been a quiet in keeping with traditions in Geneva as it still meant time with family here. But as always, there were a few other lonely souls playing with the over-sized chessmen on the far side of the park. It had been a game with her to sit and try and guess their next move. She slowly started to stroll in their direction, softly singing to herself.

" This is a most pleasant tune you have chosen."

Amanda jumped in surprise, not sure whether it was that she had been heard or who it was that seemed to hear her, with a voice that could not be mistaken for any other.

"Ambassador! What a surprise to see you here," she took a deep breath to compose herself before spinning on her heels to face him, "It looks like fate is determined to get us together some how, in the oddest of ways, isn't it?"

She looked up at tall, cloaked figure now in front of her.

"I must admit, your grandmother suggested you might be here. The conference adjourned early today with a deadlock in resolutions and Louisa had mentioned that you had accompanied her this trip when I inquired after you. She mentioned something about the need to make me aware of a 'schoolgirl crush'. What does this signify?"

She grimaced. Leave it to her grandmother to think that embarrassing her would be an effective way of squelching any imagined crushes. She had spoken a little too glowingly of Sarek after that chance meeting at the conference and Louisa would not let her live it down, it seemed.

"My grandmother is being humorous," she quickly tried to changed the subject, "Have you been to Geneva before?"

"This would be my first time. It seems a quite peaceful city, unlike many of your cities that I have visited," he nodded, surveying the sparse groupings of people.

"That's because it's a Sunday. Tomorrow this place will be packed with people", she bit her lip, contemplating her next action and whether she should brave it, "Shall I give you a tour of the Old City?"

"You have spent time here before?"

"I went to school here- Beau Soleil on the other side of the lake. I went to boarding school there before grandmother officially retired from public life," she shook her head and that, laughing, "Although, I don't think she'll ever actually truly retire, she enjoys having her irons in the fire too much."

He nodded, glancing across the expanse of the lake to the mountains beyond.

"Nickel or dime tour?" She glanced up at him from the corner of a mischievous eye.

"Nickel or dime?"

"They were old types of currency, a nickel is half a dime. So the real question is how much time do you have?"

"As the conference has currently been adjourned I have no further commitments until Tuesday."

"Well, I don't think it's going to take quite that long. But that does give us plenty of time for the dime tour today. There are several lovely parks. I was headed toward toward one of my favorites."

He nodded in approval as she led the way, and she let him quietly take in the city as she planned her course of action. Finally, after several minutes he spoke.

"We have many parks in our cities. Terran cities seem to have very little in comparison."

That was a surprise.

"Are parks considered logical? I would think that they would be looked upon as wasting resources."

He stopped and looked at her strangely.

"I find that many Terrans have this view of my people as being sterile and without any appreciation of beauty and nature. They seem to believe we are as machines."

There is was. She had insulted him.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to offend you, it's just that it doesn't seem logical to us…"

"As a human, you have no point of reference as to what is logical to a Vulcan. The ability to appreciate the wonder and beauty of creation, to be able to see the universe in all of its majesty. This is logical. To ignore it, is not. "

Amanda didn't know what to say and they walked for several minutes in silence before he spoke again.

"No offense was taken."

"Thank you, I know that we can be a very ignorant people at times," she pulled back her shoulders and glanced up at him smiling.

"One does not thank logic, Ms. Grayson."

"I'll try and remember that, Ambassador Sarek."

"This is Bastions Park," they had reached their destination and she motioned to the shaded lane in front of her, moving through a grove of trees, "Over there is the Reformation Wall. The esteemed gentlemen were the leaders of a religious reformation of several hundred years past. "

Sarek nodded and took in the figures set in bas relief along the wall, studying them for several moments.

"These all appear to be men?" he raised his brows and nodded in the direction of the bas-relief that spanned the wall."

"Yes, they most certainly are," Amanda let out a soft sigh, nothing to be proud of here.

'Where are the women?'

That stopped her in her tracks. There are none here for reasons all to obvious to her, but how to explain millennia of patriarchy- or did she want to?

"For a long time unfortunately, women, well, I suppose you would say we were considered not worth having a say in how the world was run," It was a weak response, she knew, but she certainly did not want to put herself in a position where she was making excuses for human civilization and its traditional treatment of her sex. It wouldn't serve to admit to a negative view of her world to a visiting diplomat, would it?

"Do you not have any women to be honored as such?"

The correct response would be too little, too lately, but she gave a less controversial one, "Not for many years after this wall was built, unfortunately."

Did she imagine the slight harrumph?

"We have the father of our own reformation, who brought the ideals of logic and peace, Surak, but he would not have succeeded in his quest were it not for the support of the great tribal mother, T'Pralaya and her sisters. All must play their part for change to be effective. Did no woman need to be swayed for their support in this reformation?" He looked down at her, his deep set eyes shadowed.

"I don't suppose that any of these men cared what any woman thought of their actions. We have spent the last 200 odd years trying to make up for lost time. It's not a source of pride how our society has treated its women in the past.'

He stopped for a moment and she found him looking at her rather intently, "I can see that this makes you uncomfortable I did not intend to make it so. Perhaps there is something else?"

"I was heading toward the chess game when you came along," she nodded her head in direction of the players, "Do you play?"

"I am not familiar with this."

As they moved closer, he seemed to be concentrating on the oversized board and pieces laid out in the square.

"It's a game of strategy. I think you would enjoy it. But usually it's done in a much smaller context," She laughed and motioned with her fingers the normal piece size.

"Each of the pieces is restricted to a certain type of move as it captures your opponent's pieces- a single space, a vertical, a horizontal, or…," she traced an L-shaped movement with her hand in the air. Pleased with herself, she turned and looked up at him, a gleam in her eyes, "Except for the queen of course, who can move however she pleases."

"This seems to contradict the image you have painted of women without power," the ambassador nodded, and she found herself wondering whether she imaged sensing that he was teasing her.

"I suppose it does in way."

"And the end purpose?"

"To capture your opponent's king. Maybe one day I will have the opportunity to show you how to play if you're interested, though I suspect by the end of the first game you will have me beat. I'm not a particularly good player. But I am good at looking at another's game and guessing someone's next move."

He nodded toward the game that was being played out in front of them on the large over-sized board, and looked at her, evidently waiting for her guess.

"Bishop takes rook," she whispered softly so only he could hear.

"You are sure of this?"

Pointing to the move on the chessboard as the player made the move in question, "See, I told you bishop takes rook."

She held out her hand calculated the next few moves, "They are leaving themselves open to checkmate in two moves."

Amanda nodded over to a small group over in the corner, where chits seemed to be exchanging hands in anticipation of the results.

"No point staying around for this one, it's already over," she turned and looked up at him, trying to access what her next move should be, "If you don't mind the walk, have you seen the flower clock in the English Garden?" she stopped and turned to him, answering her own question, " Of course you haven't you told me this is your first time in Geneva! That certainly should be less controversial. Up until about 50 years ago the garden would be pretty barren this time of year, but they installed a weather shield and now there is something in bloom year round."

Was she rambling on as usual? If so the ambassador didn't seem to mind and listening with a quiet intensity; asking questions only when the need arose. Obviously, small talk was not a very Vulcan thing…

oooo0000oooo

They ended at the Jet D'Eau, it's arc reaching to the sky, the late afternoon sunlight casting rainbows in its spray. The earlier warmth of the day had started to dissipate and the temperature was dipping back down, reminding her it was in fact, November. Even with the weather shields, many cities still gave a sort of lip service to the seasons and the time of day. She watched as the breeze off the lake tousled the waves of his hair and she attempted to smooth back her own, sure it was even wilder. The edges of his cloak dancing around his ankles, he pulled it closer. If she felt the chill, she was sure it was colder still to him.

He started to move closer to the lake, but Amanda grabbed his arm to pull him from getting any further.

He glanced down at her hand and she quickly pulled it away. It had been a real faux pas, she feared and sheepishly she lowered her eyes before explaining.

"Sorry, I probably shouldn't have done that, I know, but you'll get wet if that breeze decides to really kick up if you move any closer."

Sarek looked down at where she had grabbed his arm for a brief moment, "I appreciate your consideration. And I have much appreciated you 'dime" tour."

He bowed his head ever so slightly, and turned back toward the lake.

"I started out thinking that this was going to be a wasted day, but it was anything but," Amanda nodded back, laughing, happy that he did not seem to take offense at her touch, "I very much enjoyed your company."

After a few moments, he glanced over in her direction, "You are leaving…?"

"Tomorrow. I'll be spending the day in France tomorrow before I go back to school on Wednesday."

"Indeed."

Did he really sound disappointed or was she just imagining it? Projecting her wishes on him? Biting her lower lip, she took a deep breath and stuck her neck out.

"Would you like to take a little trip with me tomorrow? I'm taking the bullet train down to Paris and then onto Chartres for the day. I always like to walk the labyrinth there whenever the opportunity arises, and I haven't been back since I graduated. It seems like a good time to walk the labyrinth."

"Walk the labyrinth?"

"It's a meditation exercise. It think you might appreciate it. There is a pattern inlaid in the Cathedral floor that one follows."

"We have something similar to this. We call it a Dres'a'hemar- Mindful Walking. This bullet train?"

"It leaves early tomorrow morning, around 7. We have to change trains in Paris, but we should be in Chartres by 10."

"There is no need for the train," he shook his head ever so slightly, "I will have my driver pick you up and we will fly there. When should I advise him to meet you?"

A little stunned at his quick acceptance, let alone the offer of his vehicle, she was speechless for the moment.

"We're at the Hôtel Les Armures on rue Puits-St-Pierre. If we aren't taking the train, I suppose 9 will work. I'll be waiting."

oooo0000oooo

There had been a number of times in the past that Amanda had been in an air limo while accompanying her grandmother on various state occasions, but this was the first time she had one to herself. And it was all to herself— the Ambassador had a last minute emergency to attend to. The driver had advised her that he would join her as soon as possible, but she wasn't holding her breath. She settled back into the plush seats and close her eyes, replaying the morning's conversation with her grandmother…

This is dangerous territory you are treading, Amanda. I don't want to see you imagining something that's not there and getting hurt at the end.

Don't be silly, Gram. He's just a very interesting person and I doubt we will ever be anything other than passing acquaintances. He is being polite that's all.

Her grandmother grunted.

"No, really."

"And you are not the slightest bit attracted to him?"

She grimaced, setting her mouth in a tight line, "Well, it's hard not to look at him and think he's attractive but that doesn't mean anything."

"I want you to realize that he is Xcha'ala'at, a member of their ruling caste. Nothing will or can happen and you need to realize this. I know you and your ability to see through rose lenses with those baby blues!"

The memory faded away and she drifted into a light sleep until suddenly jarred by the opening doors. It seemed that they had hardly left Geneva.

The door opened and the driver, a severe-looking middle aged female recited her required instructions, "The Ambassador has advised that he expects to arrive within the next hour and requests that you wait on his arrival."

Amanda was not sure whether she imagined a slight disapproval in the driver's voice. She took a breath and nodded. There was not a trace of emotion one way or another in the driver's face. It must have been her imagination.

"Thank you," she smiled, but received no no acknowledgement in return. She supposed it was illogical to do so, though the Ambassador himself had never been anything but gracious.

I guess that's why he is a Ambassador, she thought to herself, watching the driver and the limo retreat into the distance.

Well, an hour was not too bad, assuming that it wasn't followed by another delay. It would give her time to stroll the cathedral grounds and the surrounding old town streets at her leisure. There was a sense of stability and peace that always came to her as she let herself take in the soaring heights of the building, letting her steps trace the outside expanse of the cathedral, enjoying the crisp fall air. And if he never showed, well, she supposed he was a very busy being and there was always the train back to Paris.

oooo0000oooo

Vulcans are supposed to be very prompt and certainly the Ambassador proved this to be true, the driver returning with him less than five minutes more than the promised hour. In a way, she was surprised in the punctuality, but very pleasantly so.

"I'm glad that you made it."

"You doubted?"

"Let's say that I thought that you may have had more important matters to attend to", she smiled up at him, "Are you ready for another tour?"

"If comparable to our prior one, I am sure it will be most…enlightening."

'They say that the cathedral was built on a "thin" site- that the veil between this world and any alternate ones is very close here."

"This then fits in with the theory of multiverses."

"Yes! It does. In a way I think I became interested in those ideas walking the labyrinth and feeling that there was something more there. Maybe those other Amandas in other universes are walking one in their version of Chartres."

Amanda motioned toward the stone steps, "The site was originally sacred to the goddess Astarte, but of course, when Christianity became dominant they took over many pagan sites and shifted them to Christian iconology, in this case, Mary the mother of Jesus, who then had this cathedral dedicated to her."

"The towers are not symmetrical. This is on purpose?"

"Yes, one's height is based on the solar year and one on the lunar year," she looked up at the towers silhouetted against the bright cloudless sky, following his gaze.

At the top of the steps, she pointed out the heavily decorated tympanum, laughing," I think that every character in the bible is somewhere on here."

As she entered the cathedral interior, she imagined the smell of centuries of incense hanging in the air, captured in every pore of the stone structure. It was as if one had stepped from the "real world" into another much more ancient one.

The click of their heels echoed as she made her way to the labyrinth, laid out in the floor before them.

"For a long time, they covered the labyrinth. Then gradually, as people became aware of the significance of walking it in more modern times, first it was uncovered on special occasions, then on a more regular basis, until finally it was left open, so that people could walk it whenever the need arose.

She pointed out the framework that held the vaulted windows, "The width of the windows is in direct proportion to the length. Everything is said to be based upon the golden rule, and said to instill a feeling of peace and tranquility."

Amanda glanced up entranced for a moment by the strong silhouette of his face against the filtered sunlight, as he took in the vast height of the cathedral.

After several moments, she spoke, trying to keep her voice low to avoid being noticed but it was to no avail. She expected that no matter how inconspicuous she tried to make them, he stood out. She spotted a figure making her way in their direction, "Oh, no, they have spied us!"

"Spied us?" he looked around.

"The professional guides," she sighed, "They don't want anyone to even look like they are talking about the structure. Actually it's illegal to guide anyone unless you are licensed to do so."

"This is illogical. If you have knowledge, why would be not allowed to impart it?"

"Cause they make money as guides and don't want anyone to do it for free."

"They will charge for this?"

She wondered what it would be like to live in a civilization where knowledge was imparted for free, and sighed that it was not her own, "Yes."

"But I do not carry any funds," his brows raised, and she seemed to sense an air of frustration- with her or with her world?

"Don't worry, I have some money. And I know what she should charge versus what she will try to."

"She would try to charge us more than required?"

Amanda looked at him, the way that he carried himself, the rich and elaborate manner of his dress, a walking billboard of wealth, "Because look at you, you look like you are dripping with credits."

"Dripping with credits?"

"Have plenty of money to spare"

"This may be true, but is it ethical that she would charge more? The woman is almost here," his mouth was set in a tight line, "Perhaps I do not speak French?"

She almost choked on that, had she heard him right?

"Or English or standard?" she offered, "And I speak Vulcan? Ktesh na kamor."

His eyes widened just a bit.

"I have no idea what I just said- I just heard you and your driver."

"You have a very good ear."

"I think yours are probably better!" she laughed, a little surprised at her own forwardness.

This time it was his turn to show what she took as amusement, just as the guide reached them.

"Most honored visitor, welcome to Chartres Cathedral. We are privileged to have you with us."

It was Vulcan, but even Amanda recognized it as the stilted speech of a automated translator. She should have known.

He turned toward Amanda, quietly noting, "Your pronunciation is better."

"You will speak standard for my companion's sake," the Impervious Ambassador was back now, directing his commands to the guide, then he turned to Amanda and softly intoned, "I will have my driver repay you when we leave."

She smiled and laughed to herself.

oooo0000ooo

The guide left them at the entry point to the labyrinth, a bit disgruntled that she had been unable to haggle a better price, the woman gave the perfunctory tour that was required and nothing more, unaware that this was just what her customers desired.

Amanda glanced at the looping rings before laid out on the floor before them, "Your legs are a lot longer than mine, so I'll follow you."

He nodded in agreement.

She tried to empty her mind as she usually did, and it worked at the start but gradually she felt as if she was being swept up in some unknown energy. It was as if Sarek 's passing through the grid in front of her had caused a subtle shift, an invisible path had cleared before her- one that she had never known was there. It was no more than a ripple in the air, but still, by the time she reached the center of the center, it was if a weight lay upon her. She paused, no one was directly behind her. In fact the labyrinth was empty but for the two of them. Within a moment or two the feeling passed and all was back to the normal, peaceful mediation that the movement through the course of the path usually brought.

Exiting the labyrinth, she was puzzled at her experience. Was it something to do with him?

"Do you miss your home?" she chanced a question.

"Miss? This would indicate an emotional response," he said.

"But you are so far from your family— you do have a family?"

"Indeed."

" A mother? Father? Siblings? A wife? Children?

"A mother and two sisters. My father is deceased. I have neither wife nor children, Ms. Grayson," Did he seem agitated by her question?

"I'm sorry, I just though you might be homesick. Back in the labyrinth…"

She felt as if a cold wall had suddenly come down between them. A door that had been opened had very effectively been closed.

"You have a disarming way of getting one to speak of things that are of a personal nature."

He stood quiet for a few minutes and she watched the colored glass reflected in the sharp planes of his features. Finally, he spoke, "And your family?"

"Aside from Louisa? I never really knew my father. He took off in a deep space mission with StarFleet not soon after I was born, and my parents divorced some time afterward. My mother- a geophysicist with the TerraMin Corporation. I rarely get to see her, she's always off hopping from one planet to the other, 'evaluating opportunities for profitable mining ventures', as they say."

"Have you never been off-world?"

"No, I'm pretty earthbound myself, though growing up with Louisa has given me quite an unique opportunity to know beings from all ends of the Federation."

"You have met many diplomats through your grandmother?"

She peered up at him from the corner of her eye, "Louisa used to sic me on her tough ones by asking personal questions."

"Sic?" He raised his brows ever so slightly.

"You know Nerres na Nerral?"

"Indeed."

"My grandmother was trying to get it to open up to her- give her some sort of idea where it stood on the Trans-Cycorian issue. So she invited the Grand Nerres for dinner one night, hoping to gain some insight, after trying for the better part of the evening, Louisa had no luck, " Amanda pause for a moment, biting her lower lip, " Then she found the two of us on the front porch discussing the state of affairs of the Federation. I was only five at the time, lord knows what I was telling Nerres that it found so fascinating. From that point on, whenever she needed someone to work on opening up one someone, she would send me in as the first line of offense."

He looked off into the distance,, "It is a valuable talent, being able to gain insights on other beings."

"I suppose it is in your line of work," she laughed, "I'm not sure if I will ever have a practical use for it."

She wasn't aware of when they had left the cathedral, but they now stood outside. Her eyes gradually adjusting to the sudden sunlight. As of on queue, his receiver gave off a soft beep, and he pulled it out glancing at it briefly.

"It appears that the walls had blocked any reception on the receiver. Unfortunately, I have to return to Geneva. I would not abandon you here…"

"Thanks okay. I can take the train. I've done it at least a dozen times. "

"Can we take you to the station?'

"No, no. I think I am just going to visit a little longer before I leave. It's a beautiful fall day. There are not too many places where one can appreciate the change of seasons, so many cities have permanent weather shields."

"I have …enjoyed our visit, Amanda Grayson. It has been a most… pleasant experience. I hope we have the occasion to meet again in the future."

"Well, if you are ever visiting the East Coast Metroplex and need a tour guide, I can promise you there are no licensed guides there- I'll be happy to show you around."

"I will look forward to that."

"Well, goodbye," by instinct she put out her hand. Before she realized the error of her action, to her surprise he had taken it. It was brief touch, but the warm, dry texture of his large hand would linger long after he was gone.

"Until we meet again, Ms. Grayson?"

"Until we meet again, Ambassador Sarek," she smiled at him, the limo door closing between them and then he was gone. A brief gust of wind rustled a smattering of leaves around her feet, and the warm air sudden became chill. Winter was coming.

oooo0000oooo

Sarek watched her through the tinted windows. A small figure waving goodbye and wondered what drew him to her. She was young and yet remarkably poised. He was used to intimidating people, but she seemed to be at great ease around him. It was a clue as to why Louisa Saint considered her granddaughter to be her "secret weapon."

But it was more than that. He would have to mediate on this as he watched the fragile figure retreat in the distance…