Alekhine's Gun
Chapter 17
The morning after the disastrous "date"- if it was even worthy of being called that - found Amanda curled up under her comforter, one pillow over her head, another clutched tightly between her legs. She tossed and turned, trying to block out the light streaming through the window.
It would not retreat. Finally, she threw the covers off, exasperated. The light hit one squinted eye, and it immediately closed. She sighed and rolled away, opening that same eye again to see the time.
0800 hours. The digital reading looked at her unmoving. This time she yawned and stretched, her back arching, arms over her head, legs and toes taut. Her entire body relaxed again as she rubbed her eyes, and then, reluctantly, got out of bed.
Clad only in underwear, with one hand over her eyes to shield them from the sunlight, she walked barefoot to the double patio doors. Her fingers skimmed along the wall until they found what they were searching for, a button. Two hits, and a tinted shield instantly rose up, taming the bright glare of the sun. Finally, she was able to fully open her eyes, without the early morning sting.
A few minutes later, now wrapped in a robe, Amanda stood in her kitchen setting her tea pot to boil. The vid-comm was on, and she was only half-listening to the morning news.
Snatches of conversation reached her ears…
"…Protests planned in several parts of the planet over new fiscal policies…"
She stood on her tip-toes and reached for the assorted leaves she kept in the cabinet.
"…businesses say the move could stunt growth and jeopardize Earth's autonomy…"
Hmmmm…add tea to grocery list…
"…Markets experiencing some turmoil—Earth1000 has lost several points in opening trading, futures down…"
As she began to steam the leaves and add honey to her mug, she began going down her list of things to do. Grocery shopping was certainly a biggie. Perhaps a trip to the flea market. She was fond of the one near Berkeley. Originally, it had sprung up centuries ago at the site of what used to be the bay area's old mono-rail system. Now that system had been converted to hover-rail, but the station itself still existed, as did the market.
Amanda loved the flavor of the market. All kinds of people from varying planets, selling their wares. Many legal. Other not quite-so-legal. The music, the food…you could get anything at the flea market. It was a one-stop shop. Needed new clothes? The flea market was the best. Jewelry? That too. Groceries? Foods from as far out as Andoria and even some Orion (technically part of the not-so-legal crowd). She chuckled as she walked past the vid-comm, where the program had switched to another topic.
.
.
It was 0930 when her comm. System chirped as she climbed out of the shower, now fully awake and alert. Wrapped in a thick terry robe she toweled off her hair and set it to voice-only as she answered.
"Amanda Grayson speaking."
"Greetings, Dr. Grayson."
Amanda smiled at the husky, lilting voice streaming through the speakers.
"Greetings to you, T'Nerual. How are you?"
"I am well. I am calling to see if you have availability today. I would like to speak with you on a matter of some importance."
Amanda worried.
"T'Nerual, is something wrong?" Her worry must have made it through in her voice, because T'Nerual was swift to offer reassurances.
"No, Amanda, nothing is "wrong." I would just like to speak with you, at your convenience, of course."
Amanda frowned. It was a strange request, but, if nothing was "wrong" and heck, she hadn't seen T'Nerual in a social setting in a while…she smiled at the blank comm.
"T'Nerual, have you ever been to a flea market?"
II
T'Nerual found herself surrounded by a swarm of people moving in every direction. Blue-green, red, brown, light dark - it was a swirling mass of humanoids around her. Thankfully, the day was warm and she was not cold, but it was incredibly noisy- and her sensitive ears were certainly not accustomed to all the chatter. Still, she waited patiently as the bright colors continued on, the sounds ringing throughout the open-air market.
Vulcan did have similar venues but not as…noisy. Nor as…bright.
"T'Nerual! Over here! T'Nerual!"
She squinted her eyes to focus on the figure jumping up and down in the crowd while making its way toward her.
Inwardly, she chuckled. Amanda is certainly animated.
Her earlier call to the human female had been prompted after an early morning meeting between herself, Sa'taan and Silek.
She was displeased to learn that the first meeting had not gone well, but she was also determined to figure out why. It was plain to her, as well as to the rest of the embassy, that they were compatible. It would only figure that the two individuals that could not see it were the two of them.
T'Nerual began walking into the crowd to meet Amanda.
.
.
"…and then, he insults me by saying humans are mentally inferior!"
They walked along the crowded rows of booths, stopping at one that was stocked with wooden carvings and dishes made from Arcadian Montepoly Wood. T'Nerual watched and listened as Amanda continued ranting, fanning the air to clear the heavy smoke and incense that permeated the area.
"I swear, it's like every word that comes out of his mouth is condescending toward humans! How he got to be ambassador to a group of people he obviously dislikes is beyond me."
Finally, she felt compelled to speak in Sarek's defense.
"Did he deliberately offend you, or was the offense inferred in some way?"
"Huh?"
T'Nerual continued to peruse the tables, still speaking but not looking directly at her companion.
"It has been my experience that some species often take offense where none is implied, and, because there is a failure to communicate properly, both parties find themselves in a state of pique."
Amanda grew quiet as she thought about the words. The twosome moved out of the Arcadian booth, back into the noisy crowd and down the row.
T'Nerual spotted a fruit stand and turned to head toward it, Amanda following close behind.
Soon they stood once again, inspecting the spread before them. She picked up an Orion glowfruit and inspected it, recalling that Silek had an affinity for this particular delicacy.
She waved to the vendor. He came to her and they began to bargain. Meanwhile, Amanda hung back, still nursing her own thoughts.
Once she'd paid for the fruit, T'Nerual turned back around and they made their way out into the throng.
"You are quiet, Amanda."
She heard the human sigh deeply.
"I think I may have messed up."
"Ah."
She waited for elaboration. It would come, she was sure. Her human friend needed assistance. She was there to provide what she could.
It was so plain to her, that she could not understand how the two of them could not see their own compatibility. As polar opposites they both attracted and repelled each other, working in tandem and yet so vastly different. T'Nerual had an affinity for her human counterpart, because she reminded her so much of herself.
They were both dealing with difficult males, S'chn T'gai males at that. But Amanda would learn, of this she had no doubt. Sarek was already hers; she merely needed to claim him. They had already accomplished the first task- they certainly knew how to anger each other. However, they did not know how to compromise. Perhaps this would be a suitable lesson to teach.
"I think it may have been my fault…"
T'Nerual remained silent, waiting.
"I may have gotten…defensive…when he brought up my doctoral thesis…"
She raised one eyebrow as they walked along, stopping at a stand selling ornately decorated Risian rugs. There was one that was a particularly pleasing shade of bold teal and gold—Silek would certainly appreciate it, Sarek would too…
"What is the asking price for this?" she asked the vendor, a tall, dark haired Risian female with an intricate sigil on her forehead.
After negotiating for a few moments, T'Nerual stepped away to rejoin Amanda. They continued their stroll.
"You aren't going to buy that rug? It was gorgeous!"
"I am going to make a purchase. However, in order to negotiate a better price, it is better to, as you humans say, "make her sweat."
Amanda chuckled.
"Which..." T'Nerual continued as they walked along the stalls, "is what I believe both you and Sarek have been doing to each other."
"What?"
This time Amanda stopped and T'Nerual turned toward her.
"I have conducted research on human sociological, psychological and emotional development as they pertain to courtship practices. It is not unusual for human children to employ antagonism in a misguided attempt at gaining the attention of a potential mate. I believe the two of you are doing the same."
This time, Amanda's jaw dropped, but T'Nerual was unfazed as she continued.
"You did say that you believe this latest "miscommunication" may have been solely due to your error. I can guarantee that Sarek would not have invited you to dine with him only to antagonize you. If he truly felt you were unworthy of his attentions, he would have simply ignored your presence all together.
"But-"
T'Nerual held her hand up for silence as she continued speaking.
"In a game of chess, your objective is to capture the king, yes?"
Amanda nodded mutely, unsure of where the Vulcan was heading. And of how chess related to her current situation.
"There is a move, called Alekhine's Gun, in which two rooks are arranged in the squares immediately before a queen. It is designed as a final assault- a chance for victory. I would posit, Amanda, that you are the queen. Sarek, the king. You have two rooks- and I suggest you use them before your opponent has the opportunity to counter you. Now, shall we continue? I do believe it is time to purchase that rug…"
"I didn't think Vulcans talked about these kinds of things…"
"When it is a matter of importance, we do what we must."
III
"…the price of Altrusian ore is rising as some investors flee the market…"
Sarek sat at his desk, his brow furrowed as he worked the final touches of the implementation agreement between Earth and Vulcan. It would call for one last massive infusion of credits—he was not entirely sure it would go over well with the high council, but it was needed as Earth worked to transfer from a cash system to a credit system.
"…Gatherings planned to protest the new fiscal rules…"
There was a steady stream of sound coming from his vid-comm as he worked, observing the news while at the same time deeply embedded in his current task. He had assigned Sakketh to the task of compiling press reports and keeping him updated with the news as Earth began its transition to a credit system. Right now, the commodities and financial stock markets were in a bit of turmoil as investors tried to sort out how the transfer would affect specific areas of the planet's economy- mainly that of the long-established financial institutions that dealt in cash.
He understood on one level that humans tended to fear anything that was new, but still there were things he could not quite wrap his mind around- like the illogical fear that somehow the new system would be completely different than the old. It was a relatively simple process that called for the elimination of paper currency and, in Earth's case, a re-evaluation of its currency to that of the rest of the federation planets.
It was not a new concept. And yet, from what he had seen and heard, there were cries that the new system would make Earth's goods less competitive, that it would cost more to import, fears of trade deficits, and the like. It sounded to Sarek very much like arguments made during the last great global recession of the early 21st Century.
"…reports of protests on the European and Asian continents…"
If his plan was to be successful, those fears would NOT come to fruition. He was presently working on a document that would provide a temporary infusion of credits from Vulcan and would allow a smooth and stabilizing transition to the new system. If all parties agreed, Vulcan would begin receiving payments in approximately 5 years with a 50-year repayment schedule. It was more than enough time for Earth to re-pay its debts without bankrupting the planet or causing financial instability. It was perfectly logical.
Beep…beep…beep…beep.
The chirrup of his communications console momentarily diverted his attention.
"Sarek here."
"Osu.'
Sakketh. Over the past several months, his young assistant had become increasingly comfortable in his position and was learning a great deal. Sarek had been able to assign him more and more responsibility. He was pleased with the young Vulcan's progress.
"Yes, Sakketh."
"Dr. Grayson is on the line for you. How shall I direct her call?"
He was momentarily stumped. Their last meeting had not ended well, and he had not expected to hear from her again…
"I will take the call."
Two beeps later, and he found himself looking directly at the image of Amanda as her face filled his comm. Screen.
"Hello, Sarek."
She appeared to be sitting in an office of sorts, and he could see the wall behind her filled with various artifacts and tapestries, a myriad of colors, and even further to the blurry, but intelligible makings of a window with a stream of sunlight and trees. Ah. She was most certainly in her office at the university.
"Greetings, Amanda."
At the mention of her name, he saw a quick quirk of her lips followed by a temporary moment of silence as each of them tried to figure out who should utter the next word. Sarek decided to remain silent to hear what she would say.
After a beat, she spoke up again.
"I was wondering...if you had some…availability, perhaps this weekend, and would like to join me at the park."
He opened his mouth to speak, but she interrupted him—
"…it occurred to me that I…may have…misinterpreted, your intent in our previous discussion, so in the spirit of interspecies cooperation-"
"Dr. Grayson-"
He saw her face flush slightly and was a bit bemused as the normally quite composed human continued to talk.
"I would like to extend a sort of olive branch of peace-"
"Amanda."
This time, he managed to grab her attention at the utterance of her name, and she quieted long enough for him to take a turn at speaking.
"I would be honored. What time would be most convenient for you?"
.
.
Amanda breathed a sigh of relief as she terminated the call. He had accepted her offer. As she settled back down in her chair and picked up a stack of padds to grade, she couldn't help but feel a bit more optimistic about her situation. She was…open, for change. And, to an extent, it had been entirely too long since she'd been "courted." She chuckled aloud at the antiquated term. Antiquated, but correct at the same time. This time, would be different. She would be open to his questions. She'd see where this-whatever they were doing—would go.
We shall see, she thought, remembering T'Nerual's words.
It was all about the thrill of the chase. And… the very female part of her had to admit—he was well worth the chase.
She tapped a few keys on her desk system, and the music streamed on, something about a disco stick. She'd have to remember to look up the terminology sometime.
.
.
Later, after he had finished his work for the day and was walking through the now-darkened halls of the embassy and toward his rooms, he pondered the female that was Amanda Grayson. She was…enigmatic. His thoughts traveled to the unsolicited advice of Silek and Sa'taan:
"Sarek, human females are not like Vulcan females. They do not abide by the basic rules of logic. Human courtship is similar to a game of chess. It involves strategy and foresight. Normally we do not speak in analogies; however, in dealing with humans we have learned that nothing is ever simple."
He had not responded verbally to the words, however, they had stayed with him in the following days. It was now four days after their first encounter, and Sarek found that he was actually looking forward to this second one.
Author's Note: Firstly, thank you to everyone who has taken the time to read and review. The story is reaching its climax and I am about halfway done. I am not even going to bother putting down a number for how many more chapters there will be though. It's a battle. My characters seem to be trying to run away from me and I am fighting to keep them all in check. So again, thank you to everyone who has been patient. It's taking me now about two weeks to write a chapter due to a real job and other obligations, but I am plugging along. I don't believe in begging for reviews, so every one is greatly appreciated.