Author's Notes: I know there will probably be questions...if you have them, ask them, and I will answer.

Alekhine's Gun

Chapter 7

Embassy life was amazing. Inside the stone walls away from the hustle and bustle of San Francisco, it was, quite literally, another world. Amanda learned the structure had been built from imported Vulcanian stone- essential to the internal climate of the facility. The stone insulated its inhabitants from San Francisco's cool humidity, while still allowing a comfortable temperature for the staff to work in. It required little energy and was therefore separate from the city's grid and almost entirely self- sufficient.

The embassy was a place for diplomats as well as a Vulcan cultural center for those situated on Earth. Amanda saw many different Vulcans; some were embassy workers and others were scientists, teachers and others employed on the planet. There was always a low murmur of voices and a prevailing sense of calm around her.

She was currently working in her office with Sakketh when her stomach rumbled. She quickly clutched it in an attempt to silence the noise to no avail.

Her companion looked up from his seat in front of her across the desk.

"Dr. Grayson, I believe your body is attempting to communicate to you the need for sustenance."

She laughed aloud.

"I guess so. But I didn't bring anything with me, so it'll have to wait."

He tilted his head to the side in a manner that Amanda had learned indicated he was considering something.

"Yes?" she prompted.

"Dr. Grayson, you are aware we have a dining facility here at the embassy."

"Oh, I can't. Besides I didn't bring any credits with me today."

Now he simply looked puzzled.

"Why would you need credits? To charge for a basic need is illogical."

Suddenly, Sakketh's stomach growled too and his face flushed green. Amanda laughed aloud.

"Okay! I know when I'm beaten. Let's go."

.

.

They walked into the embassy cafeteria and took seats. The area was more like a formal dining room and reminded Amanda of Zen gardens. She and Sakketh were seated by a large window that overlooked the embassy's massive vegetable garden.

In the peace of the room, Amanda relaxed, leaned back, closed her eyes and exhaled.

"You are Dr. Grayson I presume."

She didn't know how long she'd been reclining when the voice spoke and her eyes snapped open.

"Oh, yes," she said, rising quickly to address her greeter.

He shared the tall, lean physique of the others but his hair was completely silver. In fact, Amanda noted, he was dressed in a loose tunic and trousers distinguished only by their color- white.

He bowed.

"I am Sa'taan, the embassy chef. Please come and select what you wish me to prepare for you."

Her eyes widened slightly at the mention of his name and she nodded mutely, her mind racing with questions for him.

Another Vulcan appeared to greet Sakketh and the two bowed to each other before the foursome traveled to the garden outside. Amanda knew she would be eating a vegetarian meal and didn't mind.

She was no longer focused on food, but filled with curiosity about her companion- and his name.

They stepped out of the double doors and into the garden.

"Please remove your shoes." Sa'taan said, and she obeyed. Now barefoot, they stepped into a sunlit garden. Her feet sank into the cool soil as they began to walk the rows. Sa'taan handed her a basket.

At her quizzical look he replied, "Please use it to place your selection."

She smiled as they moved off to a far corner of the plot and away from the others.

She chuckled to herself slightly. She hadn't been barefoot in the dirt in a very long time.

At the sound her companion looked at her.

"What have you found amusing?"

She looked at him, studying his features. Even his upswept eyebrows were white. His face was lined and she realized he was much older. But he exuded calmness and inner peace she found welcoming.

"It's been a while since I've been barefoot in the dirt. May I ask why being shoeless is necessary?"

They walked the rows as Sa'taan began to speak.

"Walking the earth allows one to feel it; to understand the source of that which gives life."

She fell silent, contemplating the words and the individual from whom they came. Finally they stopped at a smaller plot toward the back of the garden.

"Here is the selection of Earth-specific fruits and vegetables. Please pick what you wish to consume and return. I will be in the kitchen and prepare your selections."

Sa'taan began walking back to the double doors and Amanda looked around her. She was in a shaded area with Fruit trees- pears, oranges, apples-the ground beneath her was filled with potatoes and radishes, and lettuce, spinach and others- each row clearly labeled.

She couldn't help but marvel at the simplicity. Humans had worked for hundreds of years to mechanize the process of farming and had removed themselves from the physical labor, and many considered it demeaning, but here…here, it was revered.

It was amazed her that a species much more technologically and intellectually advanced, found solace in something most humans would find meaningless.

Her stomach rumbled again to interrupt her musings and she began to pick.

Apples, and pears- her favorites. Spinach leaves…oh! Carrots…yum…

Soon she was done and moving back to the doors. As she approached the entry she saw a small bowl of water and a towel, with her shoes next to them.

Oh good. I can clean my feet.

She sat on a little bench and began to soak her toes.

Done, and once again in her shoes, she went back in and headed to the kitchen where Sa'taan stood waiting.

She handed him her basket and he took it.

"May I watch?" she asked.

"Osu Silek informed us that you would be inquisitive. We are here to serve." He bowed to her again as he began lifting the fruits and veggies out of the basket and rinsing them off.

They stood in companionable silence as Amanda observed him expertly clean and slice the food.

"Would you prefer to eat it in its natural state or would you like it cooked?"

"A simple salad will be sufficient."

"Very well."

With expert hands that would rival Earth's most famous chef's, Sa'taan began to skin and slice- his hands never wavering but moving quickly and expertly.

Suddenly, Amanda wanted very much to talk with him.

"Sa'taan…How did you come to the embassy?"

II

Later that evening Amanda hurried through her apartment, anxious to record.

Dropping her bags at the front door and tossing her jacket on the sofa she settled into her over-sized chair at her working desk and quickly activated her Padd codes.

A small screen slid up from the desk, a holographic keypad appearing before her. In the darkness of the apartment, the screen cast a pale glow about her face.

"Computer, activate recording." She ordered.

"Recording activated. You may begin."

"Sa'taan, Vulcan Male. Age: 123.48 Earth years.

Today I had one of the most intensely spiritual experiences of my adult life, and I have met a Vulcan unlike any other. His name is Sa'taan. I want to start off by discussing his name. I learned today that he is named for an ancient philosopher who lived around ten-thousand years ago. According to Sa'taan, the philosopher was said to have given his people enlightenment, and brought to them a new age of consciousness. That Sa'taan was not Vulcan- he came to the planet from another place and then departed, but his knowledge set the foundation for the people who would eventually become the ancient Vulcans of the age of Surak.

This information reminds me of the biblical Earth tale of the snake in the Garden of Eden who brought enlightenment and knowledge of "right and wrong" to Adam and Eve. Though this has long since been proven myth, this information from Sa'taan makes me wonder if there is indeed a truth that our minds have yet to recognize…I admit to being spiritually shaken.

It is also a strange coincidence that the name "Sa'taan" is so similar to what the serpent was referred to by the mystics- "Satan". I asked Sa'taan if he was aware of the similarity and the connotations his name has here on Earth. He did.

He is fascinated by ancient Earth mythology and philosophy- He likened the Vulcan adherence to logic to that of the Buddhist's quest for enlightenment, also noting that a blind and zealous approach to both and any other "religion" is just as problematic as an absence of "faith".

To believe without a healthy dose of doubt, and to doubt without a healthy dose of faith are the stuff of wars.

Sa'taan's Vulcan features certainly fit the physical description. But he is about as far from being the "devil" of Earth mythology as one can get.

For one, our walk in the garden. We are so surrounded by technology that it is so easy to forget the simplest of pleasures. We can reproduce and replicate any and everything that it is seemingly inconvenient to do much by hand anymore.

This is another fantastic aspect of Vulcan culture I had not been aware of.

Much of what they do is by hand. Though it would be far easier to devote their minds to more technology, Sa'taan showed me today that there is pleasure in the simplest of tasks.

According to him, there are differences in the practice and application of logic. Every Vulcan practices logic in his or her own way. It is not, contrary to common belief, a uniform thing. Logic alone is not the key to personal contentment- one must also achieve something akin to what our ancient Khemetians termed "maa"t- Peace and balance.

Sa'taan has multiple functions here at the embassy. The best way I can describe him is a sort of spiritualist.

He is a believer in IDIC- Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations and, as described to me, he has come to his own personal understanding of "Tu-Surak". When I asked him how, he said to me that such a thing was intensely personal. I do understand that, and so we moved on.

There is one more thing I would like to note.

Sa'taan is an…exceptional being. For once I am simply…at a loss for words…

Dr. Grayson out."

Amanda rose from the desk and stretched. She checked the time and realized it was well past 0100 hours. She'd recorded for well over two hours. But it had been worth it. Her mind was spinning with a million thoughts, but none that she could yet formulate into words.

And so, she padded off to bed.

.

.

It was late at the embassy. And while most of the staff had retreated to their private quarters to rest or meditate, Silek sat alone in his darkened office. The gentle chime of his door signaled a visitor.

"Enter" he called.

His eyesight was sharp, and through the darkness a figure entered.

Silek stood and bowed.

"Trensu Sa'taan. It is an honor."

Sa'taan acknowledged, "It is always a privilege to be in the company of like minds."

"I see you have met Dr. Grayson. What is your assessment of her?"

Sa'taan moved to stand next to Silek.

"She is highly intelligent and possesses a fertile mind. She is open and receptive to new ideas and is not rooted in ideology. She has a fighter's spirit, is compassionate. I believe she will prove a challenge to our S'Haile. But I believe they are equally yoked."

Silek closed his eyes, absorbing the words. It was time.

Words:

Trensu: master

Tu-Surak: The Way of Surak

Maat- in the Vulcan it means "clan" however, it is a Khemetian (Egyptian) word that literally means peace and balance. It is said that Maat is the balance to chaos in the world.

S'Haile- means "Lord"

Osu- means "sir" but is also an honorarium if used before a name. Here, it is an honorarium.