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Secrets

Sarek met Spock and Nyota at their beam down point and walked with them to his home. He shouldered half their baggage. Both had visited New Vulcan previously, but that was before the family home had been completed. Sarek had added two more modules since their bonding ceremony.

This was a much simpler dwelling than the one Spock grew up in. Sarek's ancestral home had been centuries old, inhabited by his family for generations. Through the diversity of his holdings and investments, Sarek had retained most of his wealth, even though much was lost in the Genocide. New Vulcan's current lack of labor simply would not allow for the building of a mansion.

The three entered the house and greeted T'Sela, Sarek's bond-mate, who was expecting a daughter. She had been waiting with food and cool beverages. Spock and Nyota had arrived at midday, when the heat was at its worst. They both seemed weary, but it could not be from such a short walk. Both had dark circles under their eyes. Apparently this leave was greatly needed.

Spock confirmed this over the meal. The Enterprise had just completed a First Contact mission that had gone very badly. Spock explained as much of the Tragan situation as he dared. Lives had been lost, and the crew had worked many long hours for days on end tracking down the small, isolated groups of survivors. Nyota, especially had very little rest, teaching classes and helping with translation. Sarek could tell Spock was concerned for her.

Nyota covered her mouth, trying to stifle a yawn. T'Sela noticed this.

"Husband, I suggest we let our children rest. We will have ample time for conversation later."

"You are correct, my wife. Come, Spock and Nyota. I will show you to your room." Sarek and Spock picked up the bags. Nyota seemed a little unsteady on her feet, and she had a hand on her stomach. Spock took her arm.

When Sarek returned to the table, T'Sela whispered "I believe she is with child. We must not overtax her."

While Spock and Nyota were resting, Sarek had a very strange but brief meeting with the Council of Elders. They informed him that they had just given the Federation permission to build a starbase on New Vulcan. Sarek had been asking for this very thing since the founding of the first settlement after the Genocide. His pleas had always fallen upon deaf ears.

When he asked what had brought this about, Tovorek's answer was quite vague.

"Your son and his captain brought us back Treasure long lost, Treasure that the ones who stole it from us will most likely try to recover."

"May I know the nature of this Treasure?"

"You may not. However, it may please you to know that when the record of this event is written, the name S'chn T'gai Spock cha Sarek shall be listed among the noblest sons of Vulcan."

"Yet I may not know why."

"To reveal the story at this time would endanger more lives. Also, Sarek, there is one other thing."

"Yes?"

"The Terran starship captain, Kirk, is to be given full Vulcan citizenship. As your son regards him as friend and brother, it seems only fitting that he be adopted into your clan."

"I see. I will abide by the Elders decision in this matter."

As Sarek left the Council Chamber and hurried home, he could not help but wonder just what his son had done to deserve such an honor, albeit a secret one. It was strange to have such a sense of pride but not know the reason.

The Romulan High Command was certain that the Artifacts would be found on one of the colony planets that bordered the Neutral Zone. These worlds had been settled a little over a century ago when small groups of dissidents decided to flee religious and ethnic persecution. They valued the Artifacts for their spiritual and historical significance. The Romulan High Command valued them because they had been stolen from Vulcan.

In fact, they did not even realize that the scrolls and tablets were missing until about fifty years after they had been taken. A new Praetor had assumed the throne and wanted an inventory of all his riches. His holdings were so vast that it took the auditors several years to get around to counting the dusty old scroll jars and tablets. Over half of them were gone, a total of twelve tablets and seven scroll jars missing.

An investigation was made and the log book to the scroll vault found. The last people to study the tablets were a pair of archeologists, a married couple named Davin and Chernal. When the security force cross-referenced these names, they discovered that the pair were on a list of suspected dissidents and had most likely fled the planet.

Neither the Praetor nor the High Command even knew what the scrolls contained. The tablets were said to be the writings of Surak. It would be terribly embarrassing if they should find their way back into Vulcan hands. So the Praetor ordered his fleet to quietly sweep the outlying colonies, looking for the Treasure and eliminating the dissidents.

Dorist had been far more interested in his own needs than the Praetor's. He was a very unattractive male, and as such could only meet his physical needs by force. He and his lackeys would land near a settlement, ransack it for valuables, kill the adult males and take the youths and young females for slaves. Pretty females would be bound and transported to Caldena, Dorist's base of operations and the location of his harem.

Romulan vessels had tracked the Enterprise and discovered that Tragan V no longer had colonists. Another starship had relieved them of their mission, while Kirk and his crew headed for New Vulcan. There was only one logical conclusion to be drawn: Dorist had allowed the Treasure to slip from his grasp.

Orinar had been Dorist's second-in-command. Dorist's failure to recover the Treasure and subsequent beheading were an opportunity he intended to full advantage of. He was promoted to Commander and made master of his own ship and given charge over all that had belonged to Dorist. This included the harem on Caldena. The women, of course, would have to be eliminated as per the Praetor's order. However, there were three who might just serve his purpose first.

Spock and Nyota rested a few hours, unpacked their luggage, and changed into comfortable clothing. They helped T'Sela get the evening meal together. Nyota knew little about Vulcan cooking, but was quite eager to learn.

Over a simple dinner of salad, grilled vegetables, and fruit, Spock revealed their secret.

"Nyota is with child, a son. We expect him in four or five months."

Spock's expression was neutral, as always, but Sarek saw joy and pride shining in his eyes, a father's pride. Sarek knew just how his son felt, as he was feeling quite proud himself. His son the hero was making him a grandfather, just as Sarek was about to become a father again.

When the family had eaten their meal and cleaned up the dishes, they went to the patio to enjoy the sunset and some music. The heat of the day had given way to a cool, gentle breeze. Spock had brought his ka'athyra along on leave and he began to play an ancient Vulcan song. Nyota had heard it many times and so they sang it together. When the first song finished, they began a second one.

The music was beautiful and the singers' voices blended harmoniously. T'Sela want to sit there and listen forever, but the child inside her womb demanded a change of position.

T'Sela rose from her chair. "My husband, I must walk a bit. The child has had enough sitting."

Sarek took her arm, and together they walked around to the front of the house. There, they were greeted by a wondrous sight. Many of the neighbors were standing in the doorways of their homes. The evening breeze had carried Spock and Nyota's songs, and Vulcans were known for their sensitive hearing.

They stood there a moment, as the song finished. Finally, an elderly male approached them.

"Sarek, who are your guests? Their singing is praiseworthy, a rare treat these days."

Sarek stood even straighter than usual. "You are hearing my son Spock and his Terran bond-mate Nyota. They are here on leave."

"Ah, yes. They are very gifted. Do you think they would consent to come out here and sing, that all might enjoy it?"

"I will ask them." Sarek returned to the patio and repeated the neighbor's request to his children. Both agreed, and chairs were brought to the front of the house. As the word spread up and down the street, others brought out seats for themselves. Parents even woke up sleeping children. Finally, all were assembled.

Spock and Nyota sang four songs for the neighborhood, and then excused themselves on account of fatigue and the lateness of the hour.

The document and antiquities preservation team from the Federation was very thorough in their preparations. Before they opened the scroll jars completely to the air in the clean room, they introduced a probe with an optic reader and air-sampler. They were able to confirm that the scrolls were intact and to duplicate the atmosphere inside the jars.

However, none these skilled scientists read Ancient High Vulcan, nor were they familiar enough with its culture to grasp the meaning of the many symbols appearing on both the scrolls and the tablets. Most of those who would have possessed such knowledge had perished in the Genocide. However, T'Pau knew of one that remained, her son's bond-mate T'Sela.

T'Sela had been a tenured professor of Ancient Vulcan Art History at the Vulcan Cultural Institute. She would have seen the ancient scrolls on display there and perhaps even those written in Surak's own hand that had been kept at Mount Selaya.

Spock tucked Nyota into bed in the usual manner and lay down with her for a few hours. Then he rose and dressed himself, sneaking out of the guestroom quietly, in order not to wake her.

He found his father in the family room, reading a Ferengi astrophysics text that Nyota had picked up at a flea market. Sarek found it quite amusing, as the Ferengi seemed to believe that their home world was the center of the universe.

"You are not sleeping tonight, my son. This concerns me as you seem to be in need of rest."

"I slept too long this afternoon and did not wish to disturb Nyota with my restlessness. She needs more sleep these days."

"The pregnancy seems to be going well. I trust there are no complications."

"There have been a few minor issues, mostly "morning" sickness, which of course lasted all day. Dr. McCoy has been most helpful, and medical science has come a long way in thirty years."

Sarek remembered Amanda's unsuccessful pregnancies. When she had been expecting Spock, she was ill much of the time, spending the last two months in bed. He hoped life would be kinder to his children.

"My son, your harp is in need of repair. It is obviously well used. I suspect it is difficult to maintain it properly on a starship. Let us mend it while you are visiting. I have several completed ones in the wood shop. You must choose a new one for yourself. Also, I could use your assistance with the stringing and tuning, as you have inherited your mother's perfect pitch."

"I am honored by your gift, Father, and I would be pleased to assist you."

"Excellent. We can begin after breakfast. I believe T'Sela and Nyota have plans to go shopping."

"Yes. Father, do infants really require so much equipment? I am considering purchasing Nebula Galactic stock."

"Obviously you do not remember the numerous bags of "baby stuff" your mother insisted that we haul around on missions. The time we traveled on the Cochrane, I forgot your "booster seat" so you sat on a box for the duration of the voyage. Amanda never let me live it down. Spock, it is best to defer to your wife in these matters, to maintain domestic tranquility."

"I will take that under advisement, Father."

"Spock, I had a most interesting conversation with the Elders this afternoon. I know that you have told me all that you dare concerning the Tragans. The Council was most impressed with both your efforts and those of Captain Kirk. He has been awarded full Vulcan citizenship and will be adopted into a clan."

"Whose clan, Father?"

"Our clan, my son. He is to become your brother."

"S'chn T'gai James Tiberius Kirk cha Sarek does not roll easily off the tongue. Also, I am not certain how he might react when we find him a bond-mate."

"I am more concerned with how the female in question might react!"

Lt. Commander Ardana Treli had just completed the job of handing over the copied archives to the Vulcan Cultural Ministry. First Minister Tovorek had signed for everything and his staff was now in the process of making sure that it was all properly stored. Tovorek had no logical reason to remain in the small office with Ardana.

When Ardana had first come to New Vulcan two years ago, Tovorek had fallen in love with the Betazoid xenosociologist. She had just lost her husband, a Starfleet officer in the battle of Vulcan, so she had not been ready for a new relationship. However, she did value his friendship and the two had maintained correspondence.

Now that they were together again on the same planet, Ardana realized that she felt something more than friendship for Tovorek. How would things progress, especially since Tovorek had once taken such a hard line against Vulcans having inter-species relationships? Until this issue was sorted out, it would be best to keep their relationship a secret.

Orinar had his crew make haste for Caldena. Once there, he had his trusted assassins Vilas and Hurev eliminate all but three of Dorist's concubines. T'Luris, T'Vora, and Shirela were all the daughters of Vulcan women who had been taken captive by the Romulans. Their father had been Commander before Dorist had him killed.

Orinar had the three brought to his quarters. En route, they passed the dead bodies of the other concubines.

"You have seen the fate the others have met. You shall be allowed to live and perhaps even gain your freedom if you cooperate. For your lives, you will owe a service to the Romulan Empire. You may choose to either perform this service or die now."

T'Luris, the oldest, spoke for the others.

"We choose to live."

"Well spoken. You shall be taken to a planet in the area where the Federation ships are patrolling. Tracking and listening devices will be placed under your skin, so escape and deceit will not be possible. When the Starfleet personnel detect your life signs and "rescue" you, you must tell them of your partial Vulcan heritage and that you have fled Romulan enslavement and seek asylum on New Vulcan. Once you have reached New Vulcan, you will seek an audience with the Council of Elders and tell them that you carry ancient artifacts which belong to the Vulcan people."

"We have no such artifacts."

"I will provide you will some battered old tablets I found in a hole on an abandoned world. By the time they realize they are worthless, you will have gathered information that I need and made your escape. I will have the subcutaneous devices removed and you will be given your freedom. To insure your compliance, you will be constantly monitored by two associates I will send to watch you."

"We agree to your conditions."

For the rest of his plan to work, Orinar needed to find two males from among his crew who could pass for Vulcan. He looked them over, one by one. Most of them had the prominent brow ridges that distinguished them as Romulan. Others had distinctive facial tattoos. The only two who seemed to fit his needs were Vilas and Hurev, the assassins he had inherited from Dorist. He summoned them to his quarters.

"I have new orders for you. You are to disguise yourselves as Vulcan peasant farmers from some failed agricultural colony, fled from the Romulans. You will be trailing the Vulcan half-breed women I am sending to New Vulcan as spies. I will give you one of the small ships we have taken from pirates. When the women are no longer useful to me, you will kill them. You may, however, do whatever you wish with them first."

Vilas and Hurev found this to be a most agreeable proposition.