I don't own any of it, I just play with it!
Family Is What You Make It II
Sarek had spent a long night at his office, reworking a trade agreement with the Ktarians. New Vulcan would supply them with dilithium and quartz in exchange for grain and fruit. The terms were favorable to both worlds, but Sarek could not convince the Ktarians to agree to them for more than two years at a time. The whole process would have to be repeated at the end of that period.
It was dawn when Sarek finished the final draft. He decided to stop by his mother's cottage on his way home. The townspeople had interrupted his work frequently the previous day, telling him of the terrible noise and dust clouds emanating from T'Pau's house. When Sarek had contacted her, she told him all was well. It was merely Spock and James digging the foundation for the addition.
Bones leaned against the wall outside of an OR at the Healer's School, exhausted and massaging his lower back. He had demonstrated the in vitro fertilization technique eleven times that morning. Healer Tasol, the son-in-law of Healer T'Mena was his most promising student. Tomorrow Tasol would do the procedures and Bones would observe.
IVF had often been performed by healers at the VSA. However, both the institution and most of its personnel had been lost in the Genocide. This meant that couples with fertility issues needed to travel to San Francisco and the Voorhees Family Planning Clinic. Dr. T'Prura worked there, the lone surviving VSA fertility specialist. She was also on the faculty of Stanford Medical School, but would be traveling to New Vulcan once the current semester was over.
However, there were fifty-two couples who preferred not to wait, as IVF often had to be repeated several times before a viable pregnancy occurred. Most of these were older couples, hoping for a chance to build new families and do their duty to their people.
T'Ameela found Bones and led him away, back to the Inn. As they left, the student healers tried to ask him more questions, nearly overwhelming him. T'Ameela would have none of this.
"Healer Leonard has done enough for today. You must allow him to rest."
When she got him back to the Inn, she demonstrated the neuropressure techniques she had learned from her mother. Within minutes, Bones' backache was gone. Several minutes later, he was sound asleep.
Sarek arrived at T'Pau and Tauril's cottage just as breakfast was being put on the table, so he was invited to join in. Saavik, remembering her musical reward of the previous evening, had been concentrating on using her spoon to eat her porridge. She froze in mid-bite when she saw Sarek, then fled to her room.
Tauril and T'Pau were perplexed by this, as it was not the first time Saavik had hidden from Sarek.
"My wife, speak with the child. Perhaps she will tell thee why Sarek frightens her so. I will tend to Senar and show Sarek the work that Spock and James have done."
"I will attempt this, my husband. We must solve this mystery."
T'Pau found Saavik hiding under the bed covers.
"What is it that troubles thee, child?"
"That man, he looks like the man who gave the orders in the mine, the man that bound our legs. The same man would take the big girls away. I ran away before he could take me, too."
"He is not the same person, child. Sarek is my son, thy older brother. I gave birth to him, I raised him. He has never been to Hellguard. Sarek is a master ka'athyra player. He also makes them. Perhaps he would play for thee sometime if asked."
"He makes music?"
"Yes."
Saavik considered this. Perhaps she would give Sarek another chance.
Tauril and Sarek surveyed the excavation between the cottages.
"Father Tauril, I do not understand how this was accomplished so quickly."
"Spock, James, and Montgomery Scott broke up the hard soil with jackhammers. I heard them discussing the possibility of using the transporter to remove the soil, however I did not actually see this happen. Apparently such a thing has not been done before."
"I wonder if the concrete contractors could get the foundation poured before the rainy season. If so, there is a possibility we could get the modules for thine addition ahead of time. There are some standing idle while the fire damage is being cleared."
"The suggestion has merit, my son. Let us investigate it further."
Jim was having a leisurely morning, sleeping through breakfast in one of Sarek's comfortable guest rooms. In the middle of a very pleasant dream involving dancing girls and maple syrup, Spock knocked his door.
"Wake up, Jim!"
"....Wha...who's there?"
"Jim, it is Spock. You must wake up, our grandparents need our assistance."
Jim rolled out of bed, still mostly asleep and opened the bedroom door.
"So, what do they want us to do now, buddy, build the house?"
"No, Jim. We must put the forms for the concrete in place. We have only a few hours to do so."
Nyota and T'Pela sat on Sarek and T'Sela's patio sipping tea. T'Pela had brought her small daughter T'Laan, who was quietly playing on the patio. Both young women were content to just rest in each other's company, as the events of the past week had taken quite a toll on them physically.
"Nyota, when you return to your ship, Dr. McCoy will probably insist that you start working fewer hours. Your liver and kidney function tests have shown another slight increase. It is still nothing to be alarmed about. However, caution is in order."
"Thank you, T'Pela. What about you, when are you going to get some relief? You've been working some pretty long hours since the fire."
"My mother will return tomorrow. Tasol is learning in vitro fertilization techniques from Dr. McCoy. This skill is very needed among our people now. The birth rate has increased greatly, but many more children most be born to as many parents as possible to insure genetic diversity. It has even been suggested that females should have children with two or three different men. The only way this could be tolerated by bonded couples would be through the use of IVF. Most of the adult males have willingly donated genetic material to be used for this purpose."
"Could you do this, T'Pela, carry some other male's child?"
"Tasol and I have spoken of this. We feel that it is up to the young and open-minded to set the example. Currently I carry Tasol's son, but the next child will most likely be conceived by IVF."
Nyota considered the hard choices that many young Vulcans now had to make as a result of the Genocide. Many had lost bondmates and had to choose new ones or had them chosen for them. Others had abandoned their careers and chosen fields of study in favor of what they believed would be best for the colony.
Nyota breathed a silent prayer of thanks for all those who had convinced her Spock to remain in Starfleet. She was also grateful for the presence of Selek on New Vulcan. As he and Spock were genetically identical, Spock would most likely not be requested to make any "donations." Nyota was uncertain how she would handle the idea of another woman carrying Spock's child.
Spock had also contacted Scotty, asking him to help set up the concrete forms. The three friends, along with Sarek, struggled with the heavy rolls of Durafibre, which could be molded to fit any configuration and was sturdy enough to withstand the heavy weight of the concrete being poured into it. It could be left in place after the foundation was made and would act as a moisture barrier.
All four men were sitting on T'Pau's patio enjoying a beer with Tauril when the concrete contractors arrived. By mid afternoon, the foundation slab was in place, perfectly smooth and level, and a meter thick. It was a thing of beauty, admired by all of the neighbors, though they were somewhat confused by the Terran custom Jim and Scotty had indulged in. The two men had insisted that Saavik and Senar leave their hand prints in the wet concrete, and that Saavik write their names underneath.
This was most illogical, as the imprints would soon be covered by the additions. However, the children were delighted as Jim explained "See, it's your house, too. Now it will even have your names deep inside, because you belong here."
Leonard McCoy was a happy man. His star pupil Tasol had learned the IVF technique perfectly. Bones had every confidence that the young healer would be able to perform the procedure on his own and even teach it to others.
When they had finished their morning's labors, Bones took Tasol aside.
"You're the quickest study I've ever met. I'm really impressed with how easily you've absorbed everything I've taught you."
"Thank you, Healer Leonard." Tasol blushed a bright green. "It must also be said that I have benefited from the instruction of a very fine teacher."
The two men walked over to the Inn, where T'Ameela served them each a beer. T'Mardis' supplier had come through, replenishing her stock and then some. However, she had no concerns about long term storage. The Starfleet personnel would be in town for another few days.
After a few moments, Selek joined Bones and Tasol, buying them each a second beer.
"You must help me celebrate."
"That's fine with me, Selek, but what are we celebrating?"
"T'Mardis and I are expecting a daughter."
"Congratulations! How's our little mama?"
"T'Mardis is currently consulting with an interior designer on how best to reconfigure our living space."
"Selek, are you celebrating or just hiding out?"
"Are my motives truly that obvious, Leonard?"
"Oh, you betcha!"
T'Sela had invited them all for dinner, a simple meal of salads and grilled vegetables, none of which Jim was allergic to. After the meal and its clean up, the extended family moved to the patio to enjoy a bit of music. Sarek and Spock each had their ka'athyra and Tauril a kolchak, or wooden flute. Jim had brought his guitar and Bones his harmonica.
Saavik was nearly beside herself with joy, listening to both Vulcan and Terran songs. She and Senar greatly enjoyed Old Mac Donald's Farm, especially when Bones demonstrated the animal noises. T'Ameela did not know what to make of her talented and revered healer.
Nyota, Jim, and Scotty nearly broke out in hysterics watching the Vulcans trying not to react to the lyrics of Found A Peanut. It was Spock who finally cracked.
"This song is most illogical. Why would anyone consume a peanut they knew to be rotten? And certainly no one would be able to return from the dead to sing about such an occurrence."
"It's a silly song, you hob..." Bones remembered where he was and stopped in mid sentence. "You logical Vulcan, you. It's just supposed to make you laugh."
"I see."
It was obvious from Spock's tone that he in fact did not understand.
The real high point of the evening came when Sarek allowed Saavik to hold his ka'athyra and pluck the strings. She was finally convinced that he could not be the mean man who had hurt her on Hellguard.
Seeing the child's joy at being trusted with his valuable instrument, Sarek resolved to make her even happier. He would give his new little sister her own, smaller ka'athyra, one he had built himself. Then he would teach her to play it.
When all the guests had gone, Nyota and Spock cuddled in the chaise on the patio, alone in the darkness. They had two days before the Enterprise left New Vulcan orbit. The young couple hoped that these would be quiet and relaxing, however both knew that their lives seldom worked out that way.