Chapter 8 - It's an Ancient Vulcan Custom

The computer core hummed. It stretched down in a tower five decks high. When one turned one's head it hummed louder and softer in different frequencies.

Sarek had thought to visit the observation deck, but he had interrupted a conversation between Sunap and the girl Doba there the day before and was loathe to risk it again.

"Impressive, isn't it?"

Sarek had heard footsteps but had not considered them important. He turned to greet Admiral Diamond, trying to think of a topic to engage the man's time for a while. He was running out of topics and learning more about Starfleet High Command than he ever wished.

"I was hoping to run into you," Diamond said. "Alone." He leaned on the railing. "I feel like we've gotten to know each other, Ambassador. Which I didn't expect. But I'm pleased. Starfleet and the Vulcans do not usually see eye to eye. But you are surprisingly open to discussing pretty much anything."

They both watched the core flicker as status lights cascaded and fluttered.

Diamond said, "I'm broadly interpreting the rules regarding disciplinary procedures speaking to you about this, but I'm concerned that if I don't, you will think poorly of me later for not having warned you when I could have."

Sarek waited patiently for the man to continue. This was a different conversation than the previous conversations and in that way, was welcome. The creativity of human indirectness knew no bounds.

"This will be public knowledge in a few hours anyway. I'm having a hearing convened on Starbase 6 and I fully expect your son will be called to it as a witness."

Through his composure Sarek intentionally projected something like boredom. "I see."

"I just thought you'd like to know."

"It sounds like a Starfleet matter."

"I'm not sure it purely is. I suppose it is. But your son is a Vulcan and he will be involved. Is involved." The admiral seemed to having trouble composing his thoughts. "He'll be notified in the morning, I expect. Commodore Ramos is arranging things."

Sarek watched an array of components go offline and then, one-by-one, come back on line. "Is it not odd for you to inform me before you have informed Spock?"

Diamond leaned harder on the railing. "He'll be informed soon enough. I would appreciate you keeping this to yourself."

A moment of silence later, Diamond added, "Things should be handled officially for human resources reasons, you understand."

"Of course." Sarek had waited for an opening where he could answer a different question affirmatively.

The admiral had gone silent without imparting sufficient information. Sarek loftily said, "I have full faith in Spock's ability to handle himself."

"This might be a bit different for him. I understand it's a difficult topic for Vulcans. Or so the computer claims."

"That points singularly at a particular topic," Sarek observed.

The secondary cooling system on the deck below kicked on, adding a new note to the hum.

"Does it?"

Sarek continued on with increasing external serenity, "That I can think of, in general. Individual circumstances may add others, of course."

"Well, yes of course."

Sarek counted out ten seconds and thought of the most pragmatic thing he could say. "If Spock has a difficult task ahead of him, he will rise to the challenge of it or not."

Diamond stood straight and pounded the railing lightly with his fist. "Well, if he can't rise to it, he shouldn't be behaving the way he is."

Sarek turned to him with his whole body. "You gave me with the impression that Spock himself was not in jeopardy with regards to this hearing."

"I did. He's not. Superior officers only ever are. Otherwise how would we ever get anyone to talk?"

"Yes, of course."

Sarek could see no path but a direct one. "Your implication is meaningful, Admiral. Do you really intend to make that implication?"

The man sucked in his lips, hesitated. "Yes and yes."

Sarek raised a brow.

"I just didn't want to you be surprised later, is all."

"Indeed not." Sarek feigned boredom again. "Spock is capable enough. And this is a Starfleet matter."

Sarek was supposed to stall the admiral if possible, could likely glean more information from him, but he wanted time to think. The admiral departed with a clumsy bow in his direction. Sarek nodded back and returned to contemplating the seething core of the starship's brain.

The quarters Sarek shared with Sunap were empty as they almost always were since the first reception. Sarek sat at the desk and requested that communications make a secure subspace connection for him to his office on earth. He then requested that office make a connection to Vulcan. There would be significant additional lag given how much closer Vulcan was to his current location, but he knew the crew of a starship was tightly knit and did not want to raise awareness of his actions.

"I humbly request an audience with T'Pau," Sarek said to G'uran, one of his mother's staff, or minions as he had heard humans refer to them. The term annoyingly reared up in his head each time it was relevant.

There was a long wait. Long enough to meditate lightly.

After formal greetings, T'Pau directly asked him what it was he wanted. Either she finally recognized that subspace time was expensive or she meant to be short with him.

"I am in need of advice, honored mother."

"You must be troubled, indeed, in that case."

"I am troubled only because I fear you will be. I find myself unexpectedly sanguine about the situation I've encountered. But I do not have authority to deal with it alone."

"And that is?"

"Spock's relationship with one of his fellow humans is close enough it may warrant clan recognition. That is, however, a determination I defer to you as head of the clan."

"I recall quite clearly that you didn't ask my permission before marrying a human female."

"This is a human male. And a starship captain."

T'Pau spent a moment thinking. Her aged face moved closer to the screen which made her nose larger. "That would explain T'Pring's rejection of him. I never accepted that outcome until now. They were a successful betrothal."

"I do not have details, honored mother. Only the word of someone in high authority over the two of them."

She backed away from the camera, her eyes flashing beneath hairy brows. "You are as bad as my father, Sarek. Why do you not talk to your fellow beings when it is difficult? Hasn't it brought you enough grief remaining as a dormant mountain the way you do? Here you are an ambassador; you talk to beings as an occupation; yet you cannot talk to your own sons. One after the other. The same problems arise."

"Logically, Mother, given Spock is perfectly capable of an independent existence, this should be none of my concern."

She made a noise of frustrated agreement. "But it IS the family's concern. Yes. That is always the problem. Well, I will have someone study the archive and will contact you."

With a quick but formal sign off, she was gone.

Sarek sat before the terminal. The censure he had expected to receive on Spock's behalf had not materialized. The only censure had been for him, directly. That was unexpectedly easier to take.

Kirk triggered the door to his quarters. Spock stood in the doorway.

Kirk said, "Sorry I'm not dressed yet. I just woke up."

Spock stepped inside. "I needed to speak to you before you departed for the bridge." He glanced at the monitor. "Have you read your communications this morning, Captain?"

Kirk dampened his hair and toweled it off to fluff it. "No. Something I need to be aware of?"

"I expect you have the same notice from Commodore Ramos for a disciplinary hearing on Starbase 6."

Kirk flipped the towel back from his face and smiled. "Did he really?"

Spock had trouble finding a reply. "You seem pleased, Captain."

"I am. What a hole to dig yourself into. Couldn't happen to a nicer admiral."

Kirk went to the monitor and glanced through the messages. "But of course you're dragged into this against your will. I'm sorry about that."

"I am at no risk of sanction."

"But at risk of a great deal of embarrassment." Kirk flicked off the monitor and returned to getting ready. He dug out a fresh uniform and began changing.

Spock said, "I confess I grow increasingly reluctant to arrive at Starbase 6."

Kirk pulled his uniform shirt straight. "I bet you do. Don't worry. I'll get it halted before you get dragged before any hastily convened councils regarding your alleged sleeping habits."

"How exactly will you accomplish that, Captain?"

"I'll think of something."

He looked around the room to be certain he was ready for duty. "I notice there is nothing on the summons that indicates what I'm potentially being disciplined FOR."

"Nor on mine."

"Good. I'll enjoy seeing what the crew comes up with. They're always wonderfully creative with these things."

Kirk pulled his sleeves down crisply, checked his hair, found and slipped on one of his boots, and finally looked up at his first officer.

"Spock," he said, full of sympathy. "You look like you're in the short line for the guillotine."

"May I speak frankly, sir?"

Kirk nearly dropped his other boot. "Spock, you may ALWAYS speak frankly when we're alone."

"I am somewhat taken aback that you do not wish to simply inform the admiral of the facts."

Kirk slipped on the second boot with only two hops on one foot. "I haven't ever convinced that man of anything. If you haven't noticed." He stood straight and worked his feet fully into both boots. "All right, I'm having my fun not just at the admiral's expense but also at yours. I see that."

"I am appreciative of your vast improvement in mood, Captain, but this is an official hearing."

"The hearing won't happen. Trust me."

"If you would share your plan, it would be easier to expect that outcome."

"I don't have one yet. Spock. I need to see the lay of the land. But I won't let you down."

Spock took a deep breath. Kirk could see it in the slow rise of Spock's shoulders. "Captain, my father is nearby."

Kirk patted him on the arm. "And I'm finally getting a chance to really get to know him." Kirk sighed. "Spock, Really. Give me twenty four hours, then you can speak to the admiral. You might actually get through to him. I really think you scare him." Kirk grinned. "Imagine if he let the computer read out Introduction to Ancient Vulcan Culture, especially the parts about how violently Vulcan males protected their mates. Oh, I hope he did."

Kirk moved to the door. Spock didn't move at all.

"Twelve hours?" Spock asked.

"That's not long enough."

"Jim."

Kirk heard the unmistakable, pride shattering pleading behind his name. He felt his desire to really pin Diamond to the bulkhead with his own braids melt away despite the weeks of pain behind the desire.

Kirk scratched his cheek thoughtfully. "All right. The responsible commander in me can't bear up under that. You can talk to the admiral today, at your convenience. But . . ." Kirk held up a finger. "You owe me one. And, please don't use that tone more often. I completely crumple under it. Understood?"

"Acknowledged, Captain."

Kirk shook his head and smiled at him in sympathy. He took a hold of his elbow and said, "Let's go face the galaxy, Commander. Never mind the admirals in our way."

"As you wish, Captain."

Kirk stepped forward and the door triggered open. Admiral Diamond was on the other side of it.

The admiral's voice couldn't be flatter. "Morning, Kirk. Mr. Spock."

Kirk squeezed Spock's arm once and released him.

"Good morning, Admiral. Something I can do for you?"

Spock had firmly masked his expression as he greeted and passed the admiral. Diamond glanced twice at him as if to check where he was going to stand before turning to Kirk.

"I wanted to make sure you received a communication from Commodore Ramos."

Kirk said, "I did. I understand why you did it. But I think you're making a grave mistake."

"You think you're above the rules, Kirk. That's the first step to perdition for a commander out in deep space, far from command."

Kirk brightened. "Why admiral, something we can agree on."

Diamond drew his head back in confusion.

Kirk went on, "If I'm dismissed, sir, I'm going to check in with my yeoman, who is overseeing our guests. Mr. Spock was hoping to speak with you in private, I believe."

"Was he?" Diamond put his chest out and turned to Spock.

Spock paused. "It can wait, Admiral. I will accompany the captain."

Kirk didn't react, even a smidgen. The last weeks of practice were paying out

They arrived in the lower decks where quarters had been rearranged and created to accommodate their passengers. It sounded like the first day of school there was so much bustle and bright voices.

"They won't even need a summit by the time they get there," Kirk said.

Down a quiet side corridor. Spock halted Kirk with a hand on his arm. "I must satisfy my curiosity, Captain, if I may. Did you intentionally arrange what happened outside your quarters?"

Kirk gave him a glowing smile. "I'm flattered by the level of credit you give me, Mr. Spock."

"We have had chess games not dissimilar to that."

Spock dropped Kirk's arm with a jerk and stepped back. Sarek came along the corridor, appearing serene, but with the overly piercing gaze Kirk knew well from his son.

"Good morning, Captain Kirk. Spock, I require a word with you. At your convenience. I do not wish to pull you from your duties."

"He can take an hour off from his twenty-four hour duty clock." Kirk turned to Spock. "I'll arrange your relief as soon as I check in with Rand. If you'll excuse me, Ambassador."

Sarek didn't nod to Kirk, he bowed almost respectfully in acknowledgement. Kirk hesitated before walking on to be certain he hadn't missed anything. Something odd seemed to be going on with too many people on his ship.

A/N: You know that tick tick tick ratcheting noise as a roller coaster gets hauled up the first hill? By the way, I love roller coasters.