Chapter 9 - Not Without These Fellow Travellers

Sunap was fussing with his robes in front of the mirror. He ceased as soon as Sarek and Spock walked in.

Sarek said, "Fetch breakfast for us Sunap. But do not return for twenty minutes."

The youth processed this. Nodded. "Yes, Uncle."

They were alone. Spock composed his face and his thoughts. Kirk would call this a 'sinking feeling.' It was a most appropriate term for the phenomenon.

"I have been considering the long period in which we were not communicating, Spock. Having responsibility for Sunap's education for the year has been reminding me of many things."

Spock relaxed slightly.

Sarek went on, "I previously placed a disproportionate part of the blame upon you for that time, but I am equally to blame for not listening. I have learned that communication is not just speaking. Logically, it should have been obvious."

Spock relaxed more and hid his shock.

Sarek went on, "I am determined to not continue to make the same errors in communication I have made in the past, and not just with you."

It was a good thing Spock had bolstered his control against shock, Sybok wasn't a topic even alluded to. Spock did not want to interrupt this flow. He didn't nod, or even breathe.

"You returned to this family, despite what must have been a price paid in pride, Spock. And I do not intend for that price to be extracted indefinitely. To that end, I am being proactive in making certain the clan adapts to you for a change."

Spock began to worry again. "Father-"

"This is not easy, Spock. Let me finish and I will listen without interruption to what you need to say."

He waited as if to test Spock. Spock remained silent.

"I spoke to T'Pau."

Despite every ounce of control, Spock started. Sarek ignored this.

"She suggests conducting a Ty'cra'vora ceremony."

Spock shook his head when looked to.

"I had not heard of this either. The last record of it being performed is thirty-five hundred ninety-seven years ago. The clan leader him or herself adopts an outsider so that they may be betrothed inside the family at will."

At Spock's confused look, Sarek said, "Perhaps you departed Vulcan before fully appreciating how important it is to uphold the high standard our clan retains for our people. We are one of the remaining high families adhering to our dual heritage both as savages and worshipers of logic, with our traditions we remember being both warriors and priestesses. Continuing to do so is important to me, and our clan, and the memory of our ancestors. Any significant relationship you have, Spock, must needs trigger an appropriate ritual of recognition, especially a relationship with someone with as high a position of authority as James Kirk has. Is this logical to you?"

Spock nodded. Sarek fell silent.

"May I speak?" Spock ventured.

"Yes."

Instead of saying, this is all based on a misunderstanding, all Spock could manage to say was, "T'Pau suggested this?"

"Yes. I think it is a relatively tidy solution. Do you not?"

"The last time T'Pau saw the captain, she had been tricked into believing he was dead."

"Yes, she asked if she should refer to him with the Wind Temple moniker ResurrectedOne, but I suggested that was too strong."

Spock couldn't find his faculties of speech for a many moments.

"I sense there is something you want to say," Sarek said.

"I don't . . ."

Sarek waited.

Spock finally found his mental footing and said, "Father, this is a mistake. I must presume you spoke to the admiral, or he to you, but he is mistaken."

Sarek's response was to raise an eyebrow.

"The captain and I are not . . ." but the words were not available. They were all incalculably rude, or difficult to pin meaning to from being vague enough to be polite. He could switch to Standard, but instead he gave up.

"Fascinating," Sarek eventually added. "How did someone of his rank gain an understanding so divergent from the facts?"

Spock thought back over the last few weeks. "A string of circumstantial events."

"Like the one I encountered just now. You were holding your captain's arm." He waited while Spock struggled.

Spock said, "I have no logical explanation."

"I would expect not. It is almost non circumstantial. To a Vulcan's eye, to interact so with an outsider, it would be unheard of."

Spock shook his head lightly. "The captain touches to communicate. It is a habit I have acquired in return."

"That is no explanation, Spock. Not and still call yourself Vulcan."

Spock stiffened and felt heat on the skin of his face.

Sarek said, "I have triggered anger in you. I did not intend that."

Spock took control of his voice before speaking. "To James Kirk, I am not Vulcan or human. I am me. I am free to be myself. If you wish to be communicated with as to why I departed Vulcan, that is why. I did not know at the time what I was seeking, but I have found it. I am whole here."

"If you are something other than Vulcan or human, then my accusations of being insufficiently Vulcan should not touch you. But perhaps habit explains your reaction."

"You make a good point, father. Perhaps habit."

"And you make a good point about seeking a place where you are valued as a whole being. I am pleased you found such a place. I had been mistaken to insist you could find that on Vulcan."

Spock nodded, kept his eyes down. These were not words he ever imagined hearing and his control took all of his attention.

When Spock had recovered enough, he said, "May I ask what you intend to do about T'Pau?"

"Nothing."

At Spock's questioning expression, Sarek said, "I leave it to you to decide. The offer as made cannot be rescinded. It stands for the ages. Within the family, it qualifies as completed just by being offered. As T'Pau's agent I should inform James Kirk myself. But whether I do so is up to you."

Spock shook his head. "I do not see sufficient-"

"Do not make a hasty decision, Spock. This is a clan issue and should progress slowly, especially given the morass of human misunderstanding we have waded into. Notwithstanding one mistaken admiral, my few days' observation indicates the recognition is not entirely unwarranted."

Spock flinched inwardly at having revealed too much unknowingly. But as Sarek said, there could exist no logical explanation for his behavior, so he didn't offer any.

Instead Spock said, "Captain Kirk assures me he will arrange it so the Starfleet hearing will not proceed."

"Did he say how?"

"No and I do not see how it will be managed, but I often do not see how he will accomplish the impossible before he does so. And he often does so."

"A useful clan member to have in that case."

That afternoon as he sat on the bridge, Rand arrived with Kirk's reports. She sent distress calls with her gaze. Kirk smiled reassuringly in return, but this just caused her to glare in frustration at him.

On the next report he signed his name: "My quarters after shift."

She huffed and went away.

Kirk strolled the bridge, enjoying the sounds and smells of it, the hollow spots where the access panels clunked under his feet, his crew working diligently. The questioning glances at the beginning of shift had been all shut down with a knowing smile. Kirk had hoped Diamond would leave by now so he could ask Mr. Chekov what his theory was about the disciplinary hearing.

Perhaps he could chase the admiral away.

Kirk circled slowly around to Spock's station. He dropped his hand on a blue-clad shoulder like he had a hundred times. Spock gave no indication that he noticed. He had been quiet all shift, in fact. He hadn't given Kirk any meaningful looks or coded messages upon entering the bridge, so Kirk had assumed Spock's meeting with his father had gone well enough. Now he second guessed that.

Kirk leaned over Spock. Close to one pointed ear.

"Everything all right with your father?"

Spock didn't reply immediately, which was just fine with Kirk who used it as an excuse to continue leaning far too close to his science officer.

"Surprisingly, yes."

"I see. I was getting a different vibe from you."

"It is complicated."

Kirk patted his shoulder. 'It always is."

"Yes."

Kirk didn't look at Diamond as he straightened and continued on to communications. He was ceasing to care. He had a crew to take care of.

Diamond departed before Kirk finished getting an update from Uhura on their passengers. As the lift doors swished closed, Uhura took her earpiece out and said, "Is everything all right, Captain?"

The other stations turned to hear the answer.

"Everything is fine, Lieutenant."

She frowned and continued to appear concerned.

"What did you do, Captain?" Chekov asked, always one to be relied upon.

Kirk wandered down to stand fore of the navigation board. "Mr. Chekov, are you implying I'm guilty?"

"No sir?" He bent his head low. "I suppose the question could sound as if I meant that."

Sulu said, "So, there is a hearing, sir?"

"Yes, Mr. Sulu, there is a hearing convened."

The bridge crew underwent a transition from resigned tense to angry tense.

"But, I don't understand," Chekov said in his heavy accent. "Vat did you do, Captain?"

"Admiral Diamond has some issues he wants to formally address," Kirk said.

"But . . . how could he?" Chekov went on. "Vat is he concerned about?"

Sulu said, "I heard . . ." He stopped when Kirk's attention turned his way.

Kirk said, "Please, Mr. Sulu. I am curious what you heard."

"I'm certain it must be a mistake, sir. But a few rumors are circulating. If we can speak on your behalf at the hearing. We would appreciate the opportunity."

"Thank you. I'll keep that in mind."

"Are you going to be demoted?" Chekov asked.

Kirk smiled. "Remind me, Mr. Chekov, not to hire you to represent me."

A chuckle rolled around the bridge.

Chekov turned to Sulu. "Vat did you hear?"

Kirk and Chekov both turned to Sulu and waited. Chekov leaned closer as if Sulu might whisper the answer.

Sulu blushed and waved a hand. "I heard several things, but the most likely was that the captain was accused of fraternizing with the crew."

Chekov continued to lean more. "That is not allowed?"

Kirk said, "No, Mr. Chekov it is not."

Sulu said, "Especially not a particular kind of fraternizing."

Chekov straightened in his seat. "But you did not do this thing?"

Kirk replied, "I did not do this thing."

Sulu sat forward eagerly. "The admiral is convening a hearing . . . without merit. You have him, sir."

Kirk returned to his seat. "He has himself, Lieutenant. I've tried to convince him otherwise, but the harder I try the harder he believes."

"But this hearing is going to hurt him."

"It is going to be painful for all involved, Lieutenant." He avoided glancing at Spock.

Uhura said, "Captain, we're glad to hear that you aren't at risk."

"Oh, I'm at risk for many things. Losing my temper for example."

The bridge crew smiled.

"Justifiably so, Laddie," Mr. Scott said. "Justifiably so."

Rand burst into Kirk's quarters as soon as he called for her to enter.

"Captain. I need to speak with you."

"What's the matter, Yeoman?"

"Admiral Diamond questioned me the other day, about just everything involved with being your yeoman. Now he's got you up before a disciplinary hearing. I don't know what I said wrong. Should I have lied?"

"Rand, you have nothing to lie about. It's all right."

She dropped her concern and glared at him. "You are completely unconcerned about this."

"I am, because I know it's all a mistake."

"And you think that's going to save you?"

Kirk started to reply then stopped. "It won't?"

"You could still get railroaded, you know. It happens. Who is sitting for the hearing?"

"I don't know. I haven't seen the list yet."

Her eyes went wide.

"Should I try to get the list for you? Do you have a lawyer? I can make sure you get the best."

"It would be wonderful if you could."

She made a note on her padd. "What are you accused of, sir?"

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you."

"That's mysterious of you, sir. You'd think I could figure it out from the admiral's questions. But he asked about literally everything. He even wanted to know how often you met with Mr. Spock. It doesn't make any sense."

"It's going to be fine."

"Only if you don't insist on doing everything yourself, sir, as usual. You're going to need some help this time."