Chapter Thirty eight
A Newsworthy Matter of Galaxy-wide Proportion
When You Wish Upon A Star
The Federation President Lmmurr knocked on Chancellor Barnett's door, he had advised him of the need for an immediate meeting. The Chancellor's office staff had long ago left the premises. Barnett struggled to his feet and acknowledged the president.
"I wish to thank you for your cooperation in a matter that has galaxy wide ramifications and a trickle-down effect here at the Academy.
"I have just left the Vulcan Embassy and I would be remiss if I did not advise you who was present there, T'Pau of Vulcan.
Barnett sat back in his seat and voiced,
Anyone who can read knows of her. She is the embodiment of Vulcan's internal privacy, the policy of selective isolationism. Vulcans usual response to any invasive questioning was, 'We have no comment on the matter'. His question was,
"What led to her absence from Vulcan and brought her to Terra?"
The answer is given,
"Her grandson."
Barnett thinks for a second, "Lieutenant Commander Spock?"
"Yes."
"He has just returned from a two year tour with Pike. He is not ill is he?"
Smiling, the President said, "Far from it. He has returned to get married or as they say, bonded."
"Well, who is the blushing bride?"
"You know her."
"A part of our staff perhaps. The lid has certainly been kept on that."
"No Barnett, she is your top of the class second year student, Nyota Uhura."
The Chancellor sputtered and almost fell backwards in his chair. "A student, how did that happen. He knows about fraternization ruling."
"There has been none of that. They have documented everything. It appears that their parents were involved in a arranged marriage from the ages of two and four years. I wouldn't touch this with a twenty meter pole. You would be tampering with ethnic cultures-Terran and Vulcan. By the way, they will only carry out their roles as bondmates on Embassy grounds-Vulcan soil really. So, in fact, we can't touch them, The Prime Directive makes that clear, 'The Federation is not to tamper with other civilizations government, ethics, ceremonies, traditions…' Lmmurr gestures skyward in the accepted expression that indicates, 'and so on'. Arranged marriages are both traditional and accepted in both of their civilizations. Frankly, I don't want to raise T'Pau's ire.
By the way, you are invited to the bonding ceremony at the Embassy, the time is described as 'last light' Wednesday. Formal dress I would say."
With that, Lmmurr gave a mock salute and said, "You know what kind of positive press this could bring. It would be a public relations person's dream.
Something clicked in Barnett's mind. Fruition would have to wait until the next day. He would call a special board meeting for tomorrow.
`0`0`0`0`0`0`
Nyota was in T'Pau's rooms and she thought, 'Professor Robinson…'
She left a note, 'I have gone to my office and shall return shortly.'
T'Pau's rooms were on the far side of the library, a really private area. Once Nyota reached her office she entered, swiped her card and entered the professor's code.
The professor's face radiated joy at seeing her friend's face.
"Where are you? I had no idea where you had run off to."
"I am with my parents and I will return to the Campus the week after next. I have been able to download all my school work. Did your game night turn out alright?"
"Yes, of course, T'Lou has won hearts and influenced people. All is well."
"Tell me, can you meet me tomorrow night? You will be able to meet my parents."
"Of course we can meet you. Where?"
"At the Vulcan Embassy. You will only have to show your Academy identification."
"That sounds wonderful. What time?"
"Last light."
Irma wondered why that expression sent a tremor through her.
Nyota finished, "Okay. By the way, it's dress-up time. Tomorrow I become bondmate of Spock of the house of Sarek. Please come and witness the bonding, I would not feel right if you were not present."
Nyota went on to explain T'Pau's presence on Terra, after which Irma said, "Do you have any idea of who that lady is?"
With a laugh her friend said, "Yes, my almost grandmother."
`0`0`0`0`0`0`
T'Pau had already informed Amanda and M'muba what she wanted to happen to her suite. The staff was in readiness to act as a room's quick change artists. Amanda and Sarek had purchased a new bedroom set for the couple. Twenty workers were ready to freshen walls, hang new curtains, put down new carpet, remove articles from Nyota's and Spock previous sleeping quarters that was in the closets. When the newlyweds packed, they could empty out their drawers. The workers would set up the new bed with new bedding, and move in the bureau and dresser. All this would have to be finished within an hour and fifteen minutes. This is the amount of time estimated for the bonding and then the receiving line. Refreshments would be supplied for the guest. The bride and groom would depart immediately after thanking guest. There would be food stuff in the stasis unit in their new rooms.
They would spent the first few nights at the Embassy and then as a gift, both sets of parents were sending them to Rissa-the honeymoon capitol of the galaxy.
`0`0`0`0`0`0`
When Nyota returned T'Pau was waiting and made the suggestion that she settle down and attempt a light state of meditation to settle herself. She could sense her agitation, or as Terrans would call it, nervousness.
T'Pau thought back to the time scores of years ago when she was in the same cross roads in her life. She had been bonded to Skon of the house of Sarek at the age of seven. He was much taller than she and T'Pau remembered at that time he very seriously, looked her up and down and said, "Who is your favorite author?"
T'Pau determined that the question was a test so she accepted the challenge. "His name was Stephen Hawkins, of Terra."
Skon hands were behind his back and he rocked on the balls of his feet and said,
"That author is not Vulcan."
She answered, "There is no way I could pick a favorite Vulcan author, all of our works are superior. Terran authors' writing can go from exceptional to unreadable-so you can understand my choice."
Skon nodded and said, "Your reasoning is quite logical."
Through the years their bond had grown. He was being groomed to take up the position his father had held for many years, Vulcan Ambassador to Terra-which really made him a representative of The Federation. She had worked with her father who was also in the diplomatic corp. She became his Aide de Champ, the first time a female had held that post. Then came Skon's summons,
"Beloved the Fires are beginning, join with me."
They met in the caves, he was already delirious, fevered and took her in her virginal state. It was only because of the deep meditation practices she had perfected that she survived with a life growing within her. She had experienced what every Vulcan bonded female either experienced or would experience, because that was the Vulcan way.
Sarek, was a perfect offspring. He excelled in every effort. After Skon started training him on the Ka'athyra he mastered it and then also composed music. Brilliant would have been an understatement, he surpassed every expectation, graduated top of his class and obtained entry into VSA at the age of sixteen, majoring in astrophysics. Once he graduated, he began training for ambassadorship. Sarek was proficient in seventy-five percent of the languages spoken by Federation members and was continuing to add to that list. There had never been another like him in the post he now had held for sixty years.
When Skon first started manifesting the symptoms of Bendi Syndrome, Sarek's training intensified. Upon his father's death, Sarek took the full reigns of power that belonged to the office of Vulcan Ambassador and inherited his father's Robes of State.
T'Pau then on her own gained positions of power and became what Terran's described as 'all of Vulcan in one place.'
She recalled the only rift in her relationship with her son, was his marriage to her Terran daughter-in-law. She opposed it with all her might. But he was her son, and the son of Skon-once he had gathered all the pertinent information, weighed the outcome logically, he decided and would not turn back. So was the case, T'Pau didn't take long to realize the wisdom of Sarek's choice and now she admired her daughter-in-law who had embraced The Vulcan Way and had learned the ways of Surak. She was the model Vulcan wife, in public, but she had a mind of her own and she too was brilliant. Of course, this explained their son Spock and now his choice of bondmate, which gave credence to her expectation of exceptional great-grand children.
After meditation, Nyota entered her last night unbound as easily as a child and slept the entire night.