What a fan fic writer needs is a good disclaimer, one that says she doesn't own Star Trek, any of the canon characters, nor does she make any profit from her writings. That's still the secret to not getting sued!

Secrets II

It was such a nice little vessel, Orinar hoped that it would come back to him in one piece. He had captured it from Orion pirates, who had taken it from a wealthy Vulcan trader. It could carry five and had a maximum speed of Warp Three. Aenor the weapons specialist had fitted it with a cloaking device.

Vilas and Hurev were given peasant clothing to wear. Guresh the steward kept everything they confiscated from prisoners and slaves in a storage area. One never knew what might come in handy. Unfortunately, he did not have the best memory, so some of the clothes were Vulcan, some Romulan and the rest were anybody's guess. It was an eclectic look, but Guresh was a soldier, not a fashion consultant. His biggest worry was footwear. Both Vilas and Hurev had extremely large feet. There was nothing in his stores that would fit them. Ah, well. Who looks at feet, anyway? They would simply have to wear their uniform boots.

It was much easier to dress the three Vulcan women. Guresh knew nothing at all about women's clothing, so he simply brought them to the storeroom and told them to find themselves appropriate clothing, three outfits each, plus sturdy shoes and duffels to put their things in.

T'Luris recognized items which had belonged to her mother, jewelry and a hairbroach with sharp points. She hid these among the clothing she selected. Perhaps they might prove useful in the future.

T'Vora smiled to herself as she located her own mother's dark brown outer robe. The latinum that had been sewn into the lining was still there. Apparently Guresh had not thought the garment worthy of a thorough search.

Shirela also found treasure, a carved shell pendant in the form of a vase. It held a retractable stiletto filled with poison. One of the Orion women had once described it to her. One never knew what might come in handy.

When the three women had dressed themselves and made their selections, Guresh took them to the physician to have their subcutaneous devices implanted.

Nyota had rested well, so she and T'Sela took off after breakfast for the merchant's district. They spent a full morning shopping for baby gear while Sarek and Spock were busy in the workshop. Sarek repaired Spock's ka'athyra while his son strung and tuned some new ones Sarek had made.

At noon, they were interrupted by Elder Tuvin the tailor. He was standing in the doorway of the wood shop.

"Ahem, If I may..."

"Tuvin, we did not hear you. Welcome, what brings you out in the heat of the day?"

"I have a mission, Sarek. All the neighbors have entrusted me with a request they wish to make of Spock and Nyota."

Spock was momentarily stunned, but recovered quickly. "What is it they request, Tuvin?"

"Actually our request in two-fold. First, we would like you and your bond-mate to honor us with your singing at the community gathering in the park the day after tomorrow. Second, if you are agreeable to this, there are those who would like to make recordings of the performance. Your songs of last evening have touched many. All who heard you have told of it to many others, who in turn would like to hear your gifts for themselves."

"Your requests honor both Nyota and myself. However, I can not speak for my wife on this matter."

"Can not speak for me on what matter, my husband?" Nyota and T'Sela had returned from their shopping. Nyota carried a tray of glasses of cool water, and served Tuvin first. He bowed his head in gratitude, and then repeat his requests.

"If my husband is agreeable, I would like to accept this honored invitation."

Spock nodded. "I would make one request, however. There needs to be some type of shade provided for Nyota, as she is with child and unaccustomed to the heat."

"A canopy and portable cooling fan shall be provided for her. That is the very least we can do. All of ours thanks to both of you." Parting greetings were exchanged, and Tuvin went back to his own home.

"It is well that we went shopping, my daughter. Your new dress and sandals will be most becoming."

New dress and sandals? Their closet on the ship was quite full already. Spock raised an eyebrow, then glanced at his father, who wisely said nothing.

"You are correct, Mother T'Sela. Everything I own is getting rather tight. At least I will not embarrass Spock out in public."

"Nyota, you are still smaller than I. Perhaps you can wear some of what no longer fits me. Now, what shall we do with your hair?".....

Father and son exchanged amused looks and returned to their work. Both were gratified that the women got along so well together.

"She's flirting with me, Bones."

"Jim, your ego is monumental. Only you would think that the barmaid in a Vulcan inn was flirting with you."

"But she keeps bringing us more of this dried and salted globefruit."

Jim stabbed another piece with the two-tined fork and shoved it into his mouth.

"Because you keep eating it. Salty snacks make the customers buy more drinks. There's no such thing as a free lunch."

"I still say she's flirting with me."

T'Ameela the barmaid placed another bowl of globefruit on the table and set a plate of kreyla in front of Bones. She looked at the Doctor with the just the tiniest ghost of a smile on her lips. Then she turned and walked briskly back to the bar.

Bones gulped.

"She was flirting, alright, but not with you!"

"I must be losing my touch."

Admiral Pike walked through the door, spotted Jim and Bones, and invited himself to join them at their table.

"Fancy meeting you boys here."

"Yeah, well, the night life in New Shi'Kahr was just too exciting for Jim. We needed to tone it down a little."

"I know what you mean. I got caught up watching a bunch of kids playing Shau-zehl, the equivalent of Red Rover. I've had about all the relaxation I can stand. Luckily I'm not on leave. Starfleet has me working. I'm here to meet with Ambassador Selek."

"Cool. Bones and I went to look him up in New Shannai'Kahr, but we found that he had moved. Some cute young couple with a baby lives in his cottage now."

"That's because he married the innkeeper here and teaches at the new university. He and I are going to look over a site for the new starbase."

Jim's eyes were nearly bugging out of is head.

"Whoa! I must have missed a memo! Selek's married, and the Vulcans have finally agreed to a starbase. When did all this happen?"

"Selek got married about two months ago. His wife's name is T'Mardis. She immigrated from Melenia V. As for the Vulcans finally okaying a starbase here, that just happened the day before yesterday. However, Starfleet Command doesn't want to drag their feet on it, just in case the Elders change their minds. Anyway, Selek thinks he knows the perfect place. Speak of the devil, there he is!"

Selek had appeared from the Inn's courtyard. He looked younger and more relaxed than the last time they had seen him.

"Good afternoon, gentlemen. Jim, Doctor, it is most pleasant to see you again. Welcome to New Sura'Kahr. May I order you some refreshment? I am on very good terms with the innkeeper."

"A situation that could change if you continue to give away the profits, my husband."

A beautiful, chocolate-skinned Vulcan woman brought them each a fresh beer.

"Do not be stingy, T'Mardis. I expect that these gentlemen will become loyal customers."

"Apparently my best barmaid hopes so. She seems to have a fondness for the doctor."

Pike took a big sip of his very fine beer, then asked Jim and Bones a question.

"Well, since you two are here, why don't you go with Selek and me to check out the real estate?"

"Jim can go if he wants, but I think I'll stay right here."

Selek chuckled under his breath.

"Doctor, T'Ameela finishes work in about an hour. She likes to have dinner in the courtyard."

"T'Ameela, what a pretty name....."

Spock and Nyota's concert at the New Shi'kahr Community Park Dedication was a huge success. A recording was made to be sold, with the proceeds to benefit the proposed Cultural Institute.

The family rested in the afternoon and ate a light dinner on the patio. Nyota had been trying to persuade Sarek to tell her all about Spock's "naughty childhood," when the comm link terminal chimed.

"Incoming call for Ambassador Sarek and Lady T'Sela from Elder Tovorek on secured channel."

"Computer delay transmission for one minute. Come, my wife, we will take this in my study."

Orinar gave each of the three a clay tablet, plus a beat-up old scroll and broken piece of pottery from the jar it came in. He might as well make things interesting for the Vulcans. There were several more such pieces of "junk" in Guresh's storeroom.

He had T'Luris, T'Vora, and Shirela all rehearse their stories for him and then he turned them over to Vilas and Hurev.

There were two resting chambers on the small vessel, one for the women and one for whichever of the men was not currently piloting the ship. Hurev took the first watch while Vilas "rested."

Orinar had told them that they could do what they wanted with the women after the mission was completed and before they executed them. Vilas, deciding he would like a little "action" now, dragged Shirela to his quarters.

Shirela had learned a concubine's "arts" well and gave Vilas a massage to relax him and put him in the mood. He was so at ease that his mental shielding faltered a bit. As she touched him, she read his thoughts.

"Oh, this is pleasant. Such a pity Orinar has ordered her death, for I could get used to this....."

Shirela continued her ministrations, giving no indication that anything was amiss.

Later, when she returned to her chambers, she linked minds with the others, showing them what she had seen in Vilas' mind.

"We have nothing to lose by telling all of the truth to the Vulcans. Perhaps we might escape Orinar's clutches. But first we must reach a starbase. None of us can pilot this ship, so we need these two alive."

Several hours later, Vilas landed the vessel on Ebert's planetoid, a deserted piece of rock near a stretch of space traders called "the shipping lane." He switched on an old style distress beacon and let the three women out on the surface.

"Remember that all you say can be heard and that we will be tracking you."

Three hours later, they were picked up by the USS Pasteur.

Sarek was annoyed. He had been summoned to another secret, nighttime meeting with the Elders, this time with T'Sela in tow. This time the location was the New Vulcan Cultural Museum.

Tovorek met them at the door and ushered them into the lift. He said nothing as they journeyed several hundred meters beneath the surface, finally stopping at the third sub-basement. Still in silence, he led them to a small, climate controlled chamber. T'Pau, Tuvin, and Tauthil were waiting.

Finally Tovorek spoke.

"What you are about to see and hear is to be kept in absolute secrecy. T'Sela, you have been invited here because of your knowledge of ancient artifacts, texts, and their symbolism. We have included Sarek because he is your bond-mate and father of the one who helped reclaim these Treasures. It is now easier to inform you of these things and require your silence than to try to keep the secret from you."

Tovorek then gave them an abbreviated history of the Tragans, the tablets and scrolls, and the Enterprise's part in their recovery. Afterward, T'Sela was taken to the clean room to render her judgment upon the Artifacts' authenticity.

Tovorek approached Sarek

"While your wife is occupied, perhaps we might have a discussion."

"On what topic?"

Sarek and Tovorek had never gotten along. Tovorek had never approved of Sarek's marriage to Amanda of their decision to raise a hybrid child. Tovorek's son Telen had been one of Spock's chief childhood tormentors. It had not helped matters that Spock was much more intelligent than Telen. Though Spock was two years younger, he had always been at least two grades levels above him academically.

Sarek had always found Tovorek bigoted and narrow-minded. He felt neither of those attitudes worthy of an Elder.

"I need to make an apology. I greatly misjudged you, your former bond-mate, and especially your son. I was biased because of his dual heritage, but Spock has repeatedly proven himself to be one of Vulcan's honorable sons. He does you credit."

Sarek never thought to hear such words.

"I accept your apology, Tovorek. We will speak no more of the matter."

After examining the tablets, T'Sela concluded that they dated from the time of Surak. The symbols on the borders indicated their approximate date and place of creation, at the T'Kareth Sanctuary in the 4th century.

The scrolls were from the same era, and written in what T'Sela recognized as Surak's own hand. The writings were consistent with Surak's teachings, but contained some surprising revelations.

Some Vulcans might be shocked to read them.

TBC

A/N:

There will be a story about T'Mardis' origins and how she and "Selek" got together. Not to worry!