When a Plan Comes Together
Vulrak collected Nyota for work. Spock had not been home since several days before, when T'Pring had managed to leave the chamber without notice and disappear into the caves. Spock had become committed to finding her and bringing her before the council for her charges. They would also need Tirza searched, so that the memories in her mind could implicate T'Pring's involvement in the treason. Nyota had not received much sleep. She kept Sytar next to her, at most times and only parted with him when she had to leave for work. She collected him as soon as she returned home. Vulrak had been exceptionally silent and Toimu had been unsuccessful in trying to cheer her up, everyday. Even Mwinyi had visited her several times, but days had passed and Styik's searching was still acknowledged as "in progress".
Ravalan had not been leaving Suzak with Nyota in any of Nyota's free time, but would visit with her, bringing the baby along. Nyota and Ravalan would sit on the very veranda patio which Nyota had tried to console T'Pring on days before and attempt to talk about things, something, anything other than Styik, a crime, T'Pring, terrorist involvement, Livingston Kurok, or anything that might have made Lady Uhura upset. The thing about that practice was it still made Uhura upset, because she knew what Ravalan was thinking about, and hated that she was trying to handle her with these kid gloves.
So, on this particular day, Vulrak collected Nyota for work and they left Sytar with the Vulcans responsible for his safety while she was at work. on the way to the Embassy, Vulrak informed her, "I am told that the Lady Tirza will be brought into search on today. Ambassador Spock seems to believe that the meld will reveal that she had no choice but to comply in the way in which she did..."
"You mean that she will get off for being involved with terrorists." Nyota corrected.
Vulrak defended, "Her involvement with this conspiracy is quite minimal, My Lady. She should not have her entire life destroyed for forced actions which she will most likely credit to logic." Nyota did not refute him. His statement was not even worthy of refutation, to her. She and Tirza would have words, before the Vulcan woman ever even had the chance to enter that mansion. Vulrak seemed to know exactly where her mind was going, "My Lady, I hope that you can remember that the Lady Tirza will now be considered of a more noble nature than yourself, as the wife of Ambassador Spock, discoverer and co founder of New Vulcan."
"I am comfortable and collected with being on whatever level that the wife of rescuer of co founders of New Vulcan is and still giving that creature whatever it is that my mind conjures up when I see her." Nyota assured him, with a forced wincing smile. Vulrak held up his hands in defeat, and did not press the issue any further.
Tirza came from the cave to meet with Ambassador Spock, outside of the cave, in a transport. The transport arrived at a scheduled time and she was happy to see him again, although she did not show this emotion. She felt contented with her return of logic. She had been dutifully meditating for many days. Ambassador Spock stepped off of the transport to assist her with boarding it. Tirza sat in the transport and looked at the cave for a moment longer than she needed to, and he turned towards it, as well. Tirza broke her stare and faced forward. Now, Ambassador Spock headed for the cave. Tirza remained silent and kept her focus straight ahead.
Moments later, he emerged from the cave with T'Pring. T'Pring was wearing her meditating robes and did not put up a fight with him when he collected her. She got onto the transport, as well. Ambassador Spock asked, "Why was T'Pring here?"
Tirza looked at T'Pring, who did not respond, then answered her husband, "She came to ensure that I was not killed by any terrorist agents during my recovery. T'Pring is my friend, and would not wish to see me hurt." Tirza reached for T'Pring's hand and held it. T'Pring did not react. Tirza added, "T'Pring needed counsel from Elder T'Pau before she could proceed to surrendering herself to the chamber." Ambassador Spock saw T'Pring squeeze Tirza's hand, then let it go. He would not ask them what type of conversation they had been conducting. T'Pring and Tirza would both be searched soon enough.
While the transport was still in the cave lands, the navigator of the transport suddenly seemed to black out. The three Vulcan passengers all looked at him, but none reacted rashly. Ambassador Spock quickly went to try to stop the transport. The navigator had been fired at by some type of dart. T'Pring glanced around and leaped from the transport. Tirza watched her crash to the sand and roll for a moment before getting up and dashing off. Ambassador Spock managed to stop the transport and got out of it to chase after T'Pring. Tirza opened the communications line on the small transport and announced, "This is the Lady Tirza. Ambassador Spock and myself are in the cave lands area..." She began to give a precise location. She added, "A treason suspect is on the run, one T'Pring, and Ambassador Spock is in pursuit. I believe, however that we are currently being attacked by others, as our driver was hit in the neck with a crude dart."
Nyota alerted Spock as she responded to Tirza, "Lady Tirza, we are sending rescue guards your way." Nyota turned to look at Vulrak, who was standing in the room, leaned against a wall. He looked panicked, but he was not reacting. Nyota said, "You need to go with them."
He shook his head and said, "I am the charge of your safety. If I leave, you will be unattended. This was their original plan to isolate you, or have you forgotten?"
Nyota sighed and said, "I want both Tirza and T'Pring brought in before the council, and I do not want Ambassador Spock hurt. You are the most qualified guard. There are other guards here, Vulrak."
"I refuse." He said, simply.
"You refuse a direct order?" Nyota asked, getting annoyed with his stubborness.
"I refuse your direct order, under the circumstances that it is illogical, and potentially a danger to your own welfare." Vulrak answered.
She rationalized, "Vulrak, Ambassador Spock and his wife are truly being attacked and T'Pring is getting away from our custody."
"Understood, My Lady, but I will not leave you defenseless. How are we to know that the attack is not a means to have you defenseless?" Vulrak asked. She shrugged. They weren't sure. Sybok once had Janice apprehended as a distraction to take her, before. All she could do was accept what Vulrak was telling her.
Another transmission came through the system and a Vulcan alerted Nyota, "Lt. Uhura. I have just dispatched off site guards to the council chamber. It appears to be under attack."
"Under attack? By whom?" Nyota asked.
"By a mob of V'tosh ka'tur. It would seem that they do not believe that justice will be provided for the child who was killed, and they are attempting to create their own." Now, Nyota took out her ear piece and rushed out of her office. Vulrak caught her by the arm and said, "My Lady, there are guards protecting his area. He will not be harmed."
She struggled with him, insisting, "You let me go down there to check on my son. You had a son, once! Would you stay here and work if he was there, in danger?" Vulrak stood for a moment, sending some type of telepathic message. Soon enough, his communicator sounded. He opened it and said, "This is Vulrak."
"Spock here. What is the problem, Vulrak? Is Lt. Uhura safe?" Spock asked.
"She currently is safe, however she insists upon going to the chamber to check on your son." Vulrak said.
Spock answered quickly and evenly, "Lt. Uhura's expertise is not required to alleviate that particular situation, however, she is needed precisely where she is, as several transmissions may be coming through. I will try to..." The reception became garbled, then they heard Spock say, "and meet you at the Embassy."
"Sir Spock, it is difficult to hear you." Vulrak tried to warn him.
Spcok's response was, "I am having trouble hearing you, Vulrak. I will see you soon. Spock, out."
Nyota sighed. Spock was her supervisor and ahead of her, still on the chain of command, but she did not wish to listen to the order which he had just given. The V'osh ka'tur could kill Styik, and they would feel well within their rights to do so, but she had to admit that her being there could not possibly stop them. She began to pray for her son. She wanted him protected. After a short while, she returned to her office and the transmission lines seemed to be going completely insane. Vulcans were making reports, all over New Vulcan of outbreaks of rioting caused by the Vulcans without logic.
Eventually, Spock entered the office, covered in what Nyota knew was Vulcan blood. The green fluid was across the front of his robes as he said, "I attempted to contact you to let you know to leave here. The interference of the transmissions has become too great for any of our communications equipment to work."
"Livingston." Nyota stated. She shook her head and said, "In college, before Starfleet, sometimes, when I had an exceptionally difficult assignment that I was having trouble turning in on time, Livingston would figure out a way to scramble the entire communications system at the university. It would give me more time to study, and even though I asked him not to do it, he would, if he thought that I needed the extra time. He has to be doing this. And I would go so far as to say that he is doing it to let me know that it is him." She looked at Spock, too afraid to even say that she was frightened.
Spock touched her fingers with his, to assure her of his protection, and informed her, "You will be evacuated to an off planet safe haven. Vulrak, escort her. Use your telepathy to give out your orders, as none of the communicators are functioning, for the moment." He broke the contact with Nyota's hand.
"What about Styik?" She asked.
"He is safe." Spock said. "He will be escorted to safety, as well. He has not been proven innocent, but it would not have been logical for the Council to allow vigilantes to attack him. He will be transported to the same safe haven as you will. If they know that you are here, they will come for you." Spock took Nyota's hand and pulled her just outside of her office door and spoke quietly to her as many of the Vulcans at work left the room, and Vulcan all over the Embassy moved around in controlled chaos. Spock said, "You were once engaged to one of the most infamous Federation fugitives of our time. This would not be a problem for me, except for the fact that now he has been on the same planet with Sybok, and in control. Sybok will surely read his mind, when given the chance, and when they realize their common link is you..." Spock shook his head and pulled Nyota into a tight embrace. He noticed that he was in no condition to touch her and offered, "I apologize for my reactions..."
"Please don't apologize for this." She whispered, a tear escaping her left eye and rolling gently down her cheek.
Spock placed an arm's length of distance between them and looked at her face, "I am not the type of being to dwell on the things which I have lost. I do not dwell on my mother's murder, nor the destruction of Vulcan. I miss both, but I have learned to accept these things being removed from my life. As painful as it was to lose our children, them too, I have learned to accept losing. I do not know my reaction... I am not sure if I may find it possible to... cope with..." his voice became lower as he spoke, "Losing you, Nyota." He was practically whispering by the time he finished the statement. She had been his coping method for losing everything else.
She said to him as their foreheads touched, "Just because Livingston and Sybok are on the same planet does not mean that you will lose me. Even if something did happen to me, I know that you are the only one, and the best person to get me out of it. Because of that, I would not be afraid, and I would just patiently wait for you to come save me. You are my hero, Spock, and I trust you with my life." He took a deep breath and calmed himself internally. "Where will you be?" She asked.
"I must try to help restore order to the planet. Vulrak, Lt. Uhura is now your priority. Begin the emergency evacuation process." Spock left the office and Nyota watched him go only for a moment, before Vulrak began to push her along.
"Let's go, My Lady. Your handmaidens will meet us with Sytar." She quickly began to head out of the Embassy building.
Upon stepping outside, a group of High Vulcan Guards dressed in red surrounded her to shield her. She felt so out of place being so protected. She tried to look around her, to see what she could see, but there was so much chaos that she decided to just walk. Soon after, Nyota, Vulrak and three other Vulcan guards boarded a transport. Vulrak said, "Stonn, report."
The Vulcan called Stonn said, "The V'osh ka'tur have been wreaking havoc upon the entire city. Thus far, it would seem that no other portions of land on the planet is affected, but our own, however we have no way of knowing for sure, as we can not effectively communicate with them. It appears that they are suffering from some type of mass hysteria." The Vulcan named Stonn looked at Nyota and she sighed and looked out of the window of the transport.
Vulrak said, "Very well. We will take the Lady Uhura to her safety point and make certain that the other members of the family are safely within the shuttle to the safe haven." Stonn nodded once.
Vulrak heard a sound and looked around to see a spear come right through the window of the transport and pierce through the driver. The other side stuck one of the Vulcans in the back. The transport went sliding across the sand and crashed. Nyota groaned, but was proud that she had not screamed. None of the Vulcans surely did not scream. She glanced around the transport and saw that Stonn and Vulrak were both conscious, but Vulrak had a bump on his head. The driver and the guard who had been sitting behind him both appeared to be dead. Nyota was trying to gage the situation, but Vulrak and Stonn grabbed her and forced her to run with them.
Vulrak said, "Whomever threw the spear is still out there. We must get you to the shuttle." She found her own footing and ran quickly. Suddenly, Vulrak went crashing to the ground when a dart hit him in the neck.
Nyota now screamed, "Vulrak!"
She tried to check on him, but Stonn grabbed her and told her, "My Lady. You must not stop and Vulrak would not ask you to do so." They ran for quite a ways, then Nyota paused, to try to catch her breath.
She looked around herself and asked, "Where the hell is the shuttle, Stonn?"
The burly Vulcan said, "My Lady, it is imperative that you continue with me. You are not yet where we need for you to be." She looked around and asked, "And where is that, Stonn?" Stonn took a deep breath. He seemed annoyed. He walked over to her, placed his hands on her shoulder and said, "My Lady." Then, he administered a Vulcan nerve pinch to her and she crumbled into his arms. Stonn effortlessly placed Nyota over his shoulder and began to walk.
T'Pring met Stonn in another transport and he placed Nyota in the backseat. T'Pring said, "Inject her." Stonn removed a hypospray and injected it into Nyota's neck. T'Pring nodded her head once and said, "I will meet you in the designated place."
"Be safe, T'Pring." Stonn said and gave her the Vulcan salute. She returned the gesture.
"I shall endeavor to return to you, Stonn." She said and started the transport. Stonn served with T'Pring in the High Vulcan Guard, and for some reason, she discovered that he wished to be bonded with her. She promised herself to him, but she told him that she would need his help with a tremendous assignment that could hold the fate of New Vulcan in its outcome. He agreed, blindly.
T'Pring walked deeply into a cave and found Ravalan, seated, appearing extremely weak. Ravalan had a gash on her head, but she was alright. "Can you walk?" T'Pring asked. Ravalan nodded her head, and T'Pring jerked her up from the ground of the cave by her arm and walked her towards the exit.
Ravalan could not speak. She was in a great deal of pain, she struggled with T'Pring, but T'Pring shook her violently, which caused her to wince and stop struggling. "This is precisely why V'tosh ka'tur should not be trusted to deal with anything."
Ravalan grabbed her hand and said, "And what should you be trusted with, oh logical one who has committed the most unforgivable crime?"
T'Pring warned, "If you continue with this, you shall never see him again." Ravalan let go of T'Pring's hand and began to walk on her own, next to the Vulcan woman. "You are to try to find your way back to where the shuttle is and tell them that your son is missing. Sarek will order a search for the boy. I have to meet with our contact, but you need to get yourself back to the family. What happened to your head?" T'Pring asked.
Ravalan walked away without answering. Ravalan had been given the word to kill Tirza. Sybok told her that when the cave Vulcans began to attack the city, it would be at his orders and it would be her sign to watch for Tirza. T'Pring was not to be told that Tirza would be killed. It could make her withdraw. While Ravalan went after Tirza, T'Pring went to the safety area that Suzak was supposed to be in and she moved him to another location, indicated by Sybok. Sybok felt pleased with himself at how he could so easily play the two polar opposite Vulcan women against each other, right under their own noses. But, when Ravalan went to attack Tirza, Tirza hit her in the head with a large stone and sent her crashing to the ground, and crawling back to the cave where she was to meet T'Pring. Suzak was gone... now Ravalan knew that T'Pring had taken him. She decided to follow her instructions, as she deeply wished to see her Suzak again.
T'Pring left from Ravalan, then rode to a certain spot and when she arrived there, Sybok smiled at her. He said, "My, T'Pring, how you have grown. I did not have an opportunity to see you when I was on New Vulcan."
She stated, "And you will not have the opportunity to see me again. I believe that you and I have a trade to be made, Sybok. That should conclude our interactions."
Firstborn walked up to T'Pring and T'Pring stared at her. She said, "It is amazing. It looks just like her."
"I have her genes and her skills. I have a great deal of her knowledge. Where is she? Where is the prototype?" Firstborn looked around and saw Nyota in the transport. She walked over to her and touched her face. "She is amazing. I wish that I could remain with her, but it is not my destiny. At least I did have the chance to look upon her, to touch her." She smiled and looked at Sybok. Shall we switch, now?"
T'Pring said, "I did not agree to help you so that I may obtain a clone of Lady Uhura, Sybok. Where is my payment?" Sybok smirked and handed her a small information chip. She took it graciously and sighed. She looked at Firstborn, "I believe that you are to come with me, and she is to go with him." Sybok lifted Nyota from the transport and T'Pring looked at Firstborn. "Wait." She told Sybok. T'Pring reminded him, "Their clothing." After they switched the two outfits, T'Pring and Firstborn got into the transport and T'Pring headed back.
When she reached Stonn, she said, "See, she is in functional health, as I promised." Stonn looked at Firstborn and nodded once. "And," T'Pring held up the tiny chip and said, "I have the hope for the tomorrow of New Vulcan."
Stonn asked, "When do the V'osh ka'tur cease their havoc on our capitol?"
T'Pring said, "As soon as Sybok is out of the atmosphere of the planet. We need to head to the shuttle. They certainly will not leave without her, and if you bring me in..."
"They will have you executed for treason." He reminded her.
"It will be worth it, Stonn, to have obtained this. Take us back." His jaw tightened and he got into the transport to take them to the shuttle. T'Pring placed the chip into her sash.
When they reached the shuttle, Spock immediately rushed over to the transport and grabbed Firstborn from out of it. He looked at T'Pring, briefly, then turned towards Stonn, "What happened?"
"I do not know, Sir Spock. We had a crash, then I brought Lady Uhura to T'Pring."
"Stonn!" T'Pring said.
He looked at her and said, "I will not lie..."
T'Pring shook her head, "Do not say another word, Stonn." He obeyed. She let out a sigh of relief. Spock signaled to the guards to obtain T'Pring and when they grabbed her, she said, "I request an immediate appearance before the Council. I have some imperative information to show them."
"Where is Tirza?" Vulrak asked.
T'Pring stared at him blankly and asked, "Tirza? She is not here, with the rest of the family? She is not with Ambassador Spock?" She asked, feeling her reserve slip away. "Is he here?"
"He is looking for Tirza!" Vulrak said. T'Pring shook her head and struggled to free herself from the guards, but they held steady to her.
"Stonn." She simply stated his name and he attacked her captors that they may let her go. T'Pring was able to jump back into the transport and managed to flee. Spock administered a Vulcan neck pinch to Stonn and got into another nearby transport. "Arrest Stonn." He stated as he pulled after T'Pring. She sped to the caves and landed next to the transport that Ambassador Spock and Tirza had been attacked in, earlier. She began to glance around, reaching out at the sky with her hands. "Tirza? Tirza, where are you?" She asked. She thought that she could sense her in the link, but she was having difficulty knowing. She heard Spock's transport pull up and she quickly went in the directions of the caves. "Tirza?"
Spock held a phaser in her direction on stun and said, "T'Pring, if you continue to move forward, I will stun you with the phaser." She turned to look at him.
"Spock, what I am doing is bigger than either of us. What I am doing will benefit New Vulcan." She informed him.
"How could you benefit by giving Lady Uhura over to terrorists?" He asked.
"Right now is not an appropriate time for us to go through this discussion. I can find Tirza. I know her link better than anyone, even Ambassador Spock. She and I share a bond unlike that of any woman and her bond mate." T'Pring commented.
"Do not move, T'Pring."
"Spock, I just have to find Tirza. If you wish, you can follow me, pointing your weapon at me the entire time. I need to find her. For them to destroy her would be illogical. It would not reverse what has been done. There is nothing that she could share that goes beyond what you already know..." She looked around and said, "I believe that she would go into that cave." She pointed to one and said, "It is the cave in which she first consummated her marriage to Vulrak. May I?" She asked, with her hands still feeling ahead of her.
"I am going to follow you with the weapon aimed at you." Spock said.
She nodded once and went towards the cave.
She and Spock entered it and T'Pring could hear heavy breathing. More and more, she was starting to feel Tirza's presence. "Tirza?" T'Pring called out. "Tirza, it is I. I can hear you breathing. I know that you are in here. Tirza?" All of a sudden, there was a shrieking roar and out of the shadows, something appeared. T'Pring heard the sound before she felt a splitting impact against her head and she crashed to the ground. Spock reached out and grabbed the assailant and subdued her.
"Tirza, is it you?" He asked.
"Spock?" Tirza asked.
"Yes. You may calm down." Spock said. He carried T'Pring from the cave and Tirza came out next to him, still holding the large stone. She dropped it upon exiting the cave.
She explained, "I thought that she would try to kill me. Do you think that she will be alright?" She checked T'Pring's head where she had hit her with the stone. The green blood was dripping from a significantly large gash on the side of her head.
When the others came to the scene, Stonn immediately rushed to T'Pring and kneeled next to her. Vulrak remained close to the other Vulcan, to ensure that he did not try anything. He glared at Spock, "You have been wanting to do this to her since she testified against your son." Spock sighed, but did not bother to refute the statement.
Tirza said, "I did this to her, Stonn."
He tilted his head, "Tirza, you? But why?"
"I believed that she was going to kill me. I had been dodging murder attempts for several hours when she came into the cave. I was merely attempting to defend myself." Tirza admitted.
"She was trying to protect you." Stonn told her. "She even made certain that she fulfilled your duties to try to keep you safe. She thought that you were her friend."
"I am her friend. You are speaking of her as though she is dead. The doctor is working on her." Tirza stated.
"Tirza." T'Pring whimpered. Tirza took T'Pring's hand. Stonn moved away, still observing.
When Tirza held T'Pring's hand, Tirza found herself, first, in a gathering of priestesses. She and T'Pring were in their apprentice's robes and T'Pau was giving them a bond. T'Pau said, "This bond is not to be confused with the bond that you share with your mates. As both of you are already bonded to mates, this bond shall not interfere with that, but it is an added bond. It is in addition to the others that you have. It is as though you are accepting a pledge of sisterly togetherness. All priestesses share this bond. It is one that you shall share, which will only be broken in the event that you shall disobey our laws. Tirza, take T'Pring's hand. She is your partner within the order of priestesses. She is your sister, your friend, and a trusted soul. Let no one break this bond, unless the law is broken by you first."
Then, Tirza looked upon a present day T'Pring, and they were standing in the place that they now rested, but they were both whole. T'Pring said, "My chances of survival at this point are minimal. There is a chip in my sash, which I need you to take. On it is the information which I worked so hard with the terrorists to obtain."
"What is it?" Tirza asked.
"It is cloning technology. It is the most advanced cloning research ever conducted. It will make it possible for us to rebuild New Vulcan. We can make mates for the children. We can bring practically perfect replicas of those who we lost and loved back to us. Their genes may pass on. The clones that I specifically asked for a design for shall age rapidly at the start of their lives, but cease to age by the time that they reach fifteen. We can make females to bare children." T'Pring nearly smiled as she said this, but Tirza found herself tremendously sad. T'Pring said, "Tirza, they would have taken over New Vulcan and destroyed everything that we have built. Now, there were some riots which took place, but all of the damage, besides the senseless taking of lives can be fixed. Now, Vulcans still own the land and we have the ability to repopulate our species again."
Tirza lowered her head, "If you die, I will be a murderer."
"Do not worry about that. They will regard you as a heroin. I love you, despite all things considered, Tirza." Tirza reached for T'Pring and took her into and embrace.
"I love you too, Sister T'Pring." Tirza said. T'Pring did not argue with her, nor try to clarify or clear up her meaning. No, such information would simply haunt Tirza at this point.
T'Pring whispered, "Goodbye, Tirza."
Tirza opened her eyes and looked at T'Pring. There was no doubt about it, T'Pring was dead. Tirza reached into T'Pring's sash and pulled out the tiny chip. Ambassador Spock looked at it and asked, "What does it contain?"
"Livingston Kurok's advancement in cloning. Apparently, the Lady Uhura was going to be bartered for this." Tirza said.
Spock glanced at Firstborn, who was several feet away from him, and asked, "How did T'Pring manage to get the chip and yet not lose Lady Uhura?"
Firstborn shook her head and said, "I lost consciousness shortly after the crash. I do not remember what took place."
All of a sudden, Ravalan came rushing at Firstborn, from seemingly out of nowhere and grabbed her by her collar, "Where is he? What did you do with him?" She squealed.
Firstborn touched Ravalan's hands as Ravalan scanned her mind, "You failed. You were supposed to kill Tirza. You did not hold up to it, and therefore, your son was taken." Ravalan screamed and pushed Firstborn. Spock and the others moved to try to break them up, but Ravalan slipped off the edge of the escarpment and caught Firstborn when she did. Both of them went falling over the edge, just as Spock reached them. He reached out to grab Firstborn, but her robe ripped from her and he saw her fall and crash onto a lower gathering of dusty stones. "NO!" He screamed, leaning over the escarpment. He quickly took a deep breath and rushed to the transport. Vulrak rushed to join him and they flew down to where her body was.
The others looked over the edge to see them. Ravalan had missed that dip and fallen much farther over the edge. Her body was splattered in a pool of green blood. Nyota's was not as formless, but just as dead. Spock gathered her into his arms and tried to catch his breath. Vulrak covered his mouth with both hands, and looked up at Tirza. Tirza had her head against Ambassador Spock's chest and both of them looked calm, but sad. Spock wrapped a cloth around her and placed her in the transport. Vulrak offered to navigate it. "Spock, I am sorry."
Spock replied, "There is no fault which I place upon you. I know that you have worked your hardest to secure her safety. Thank you for continued effort."
Stonn watched as the priestesses took T'Pring's body away to prepare her for her ceremony. The V'osh ka'tur would collect all of their dead all around the city, as well. The day had created more deaths than Spock would have ever thought that he would have to see at the hands of Vulcans, but the worse one, he did not even want to acknowledge it. That was illogical. He knew that it had taken place. He had seen it with his own eyes. He was supposed to protect her, and he had failed. Nyota was dead.
He went to the nurse maids and gathered Sytar in his arms, to hold him. The baby began to cry. The baby cried loudly and painfully, in a way that Spock had not heard him cry ever, not even when he was born. This cry was one of hurt, knowing hurt, and Spock wondered if the baby was aware enough to know what had taken place, or if he was not accidentally passing his feelings into the infant. He began to rock him to try to alleviate any pain that the child may have been experiencing. When the baby stopped crying, he knew that this was all that he had left – his children. He wished to see Styik, now. To hold him and tell him that he loved him, and that he was sorry for not being able to protect his mother.
Spock handed the baby back to the care takers and said, "I will see you soon, Son." He finished his duties on the scene and headed back to the Embassy. Communications were once again operational, and many Vulcans of logic were spread all about the area, cleaning up the mess of earlier. The Vulcans decided to bring back all of the nobles taken to the safe haven after a standard week. Spock was slightly relieved for that amount of time away from his sons, because each night when he sat to meditate, he could not concentrate. His thought flooded around the sight of Nyota's fall; he kept thinking of the sight of half of her face and the front of her body crashing onto the rocks. Half of her was marred so terribly that even her skeleton was shattered. Spock shook his head and began to repeat, "There is no pain. Pain is in the mind."
For the entire week, he did not sleep, and when the boys returned, Styik automatically rushed into his embrace. The Council had found no guilt in Styik, nor Tirza, and both of them were allowed to leave. Tirza presented the chip to the Vulcan Science Academy and they were to begin experimenting immediately. Suzak was missing, and although guards had been searching for the boy all week, no one had found so much as a trace of where he might have been. Styik was escorted home and hugged Spock tightly. He looked around, "Where is Mother?" Spock looked Styik in his eyes. He had no intention of being secretive, or of lying. He said, "She is gone, Styik."
Styik felt his face distort. "You mean, she is dead?"
"Yes." Spock said. "I apologize that I did not protect her. Both you and your brother deserve a mother. I know how you feel about losing her and I hope that this does not cause you to cease to trust me."
Styik looked at the baby and said, "You were right." He then quickly headed for his room. Spock knew that Styik probably needed to modulate his emotions, but he did not want the boy alone, so he carried Sytar into the room. To his surprise, Styik was laying in the bed, not on his modulator.
Spock sat down on the bed. Styik glanced at him and said, "I know that you expected me to react differently, but it has occurred to me, in fact, Sytar has made it clear to me... He does not have her. We do not have her. Both you and I are going to have to be strong for him, Father."
Spock was interested in the fact that Styik had made it clear that he could communicate with Sytar, however, this was not a discussion for the time being. They could speak of this later, after they had more time to cope, and build their strength up together without Nyota.
Spock took Styik out of the early learning education center and Tirza vowed to teach him one on one at home, using her own resources and the learning bowl which Sarek kept in the home. She would also be helping to look after Sytar, as opposed to several random nurse maids doing so.
The Enterprise arrived at New Vulcan just days after Styik and Sytar returned. Kirk, McCoy, Chekov and Rand made up the landing party to observe the effects that the terrorist attack from Sybok, via mass mind control and to report them to Starfleet. Also, the ship would be headed to Torvon III, on a peace mission, and Spock was called back to duty. By the time they saw him, they greeted him happily, and he managed to keep himself composed. He and Sarek took them on the tour of the place, describing the events which damaged the property, and telling of how solutions were brought on.
When they were ready to leave, Kirk asked for the thirteenth time, Spock noted, "Where is Uhura? We wanted to see her."
"As I told you Captain, the issue is a delicate subject." Spock replied.
Toimu came running up to them waving and calling out, "Spock!" When he reached them, he gave Spock a quick hug and said, "I almost missed seeing you off. My father kept telling me that you wouldn't really appreciate it, but I know that Nyota would have wanted me to, and I promise, I am going to be there for the boys while you're gone."
Now, Kirk stepped forward and looked at a sad looking Toimu. "Kirk, Enterprise. You must be Uhura's brother, Toimu. Is she alright?" Spock took a deep breath and Toimu looked at him.
Toimu asked, "Are you serious? Spock, you haven't told..." Toimu shook his head and said, glumly, "Captain Kirk, my sister was killed over a week ago. She is dead." The entire landing party reacted in shock. Chekov choked back tears and Janice just let hers flow out. They all looked at Spock, whose face revealed no emotion, not even his eyes. It scared Kirk. He had never seen even Spock look so empty.
Kirk offered, "Spock."
But Spock cut him off to say, "Please, do not put yourself in a position to feel awkward, Captain. I assure you, I am able to perform my duties despite the recent events." He bowed slightly to Toimu, "I trust that you will be there for the boys, as you have vowed."
Kirk opened his communicator and said, "Beam us up, Scotty." Toimu stood there to watch them leave, then when they were gone, he decided that he would go visit his nephews, just then.
Upon beaming aboard, several crew members spoke to Spock, welcoming him with smiles and warms words. He gave each of them polite nods, but quickly hurried to the bridge to reclaim his science station. Kirk watched Spock go back into the habit of work, just as he had been gone for but an hour. His tone, his face, his actions betrayed nothing. But, Kirk knew better, and he worried about Spock. He did not know what the details were of Lt. Uhura's death, but he had a feeling that the riots were related, and if so, so help the terrorists on that planet when Spock reached the surface.