M'ara of Vulcan
Chapter Thirteen
The dark torture chamber became deathly cold and M'ara's heart nearly stopped when she heard Spock's words. There was nothing that could prepare her for this revelation. She knew it was true. Spock would not lie to them, especially about something of this magnitude. She had spent her whole life believing that she was Vulcan, striving to live up to their strict standards. Now, in an instant, she saw the destruction of her family and Home- world. Neither would accept her back now, when it was revealed she was part Romulan. Her home, once again was stripped from her. A deep sense of loss and bitterness filled her for the universe and its cruelness. It was true what a Vulcan wise man once said, beware discontentment with what you already have, you may find that it is all you truly needed but only after it has been replaced.
The Romulan who was her father said nothing but just looked at M'ara for a moment as if analyzing a work of art.
"I see your mother in you, even if it has been well blended with my dominant genes," Julius said quietly, a deep sadness filled his voice.
"Julius, there will be time for you to get to know each other, but it is not now. The other Brikar will know about the security being tampered with within minutes," Spock advised his friend calmly.
Julius nodded and tore his gaze away from his daughter.
"I know of a different way to get out of here. I created a passage way that only I have access to for a time such as this. We won't be able to return to R'lyeh but there is a small village of farmers near here. I have a friend there who would take us in," Julius informed them. His demeanor returned to the confident Romulan second in command.
M'ara watched Serin for a moment. His expressive dark eyes looked at Julius as if trying to figure out whether they should trust him or not. Serin's gaze then traveled to M'ara. She looked down, embarrassed that to be caught watching him.
Spock caught Serin's suspicious demeanor and put a hand on his son's arm. Julius watched the interaction nervously but remained silent.
"I can not explain now, but I have my reasons to trust Julius. All I ask is for you to trust me," Spock pleaded to both Serin and M'ara. Spock's wise and aged eyes caught her gaze and knew that she could do nothing but trust his judgment in the matter. Serin and M'ara both nodded after a brief pause, having little choice really.
Julius gave each of them back their phasers and quickly put in some more codes in to the main computer. When he was finished he returned to the others.
"Alright, we have about twenty minutes before they can get through this door. I suggest we use them wisely." Julius informed them, now that he was confident that the matter of whether or not to follow him was settled.
"Lead the way," Spock replied when no one else spoke. The tension between the four companions couldn't be missed. It remained between them like a thick fog that would need drastic sunlight to be lifted.
Julius walked over to the back wall behind them and put his hand on the cold metal wall. The space around his hand turned red as if it scanned him and then returned to its silver metallic color. In a span of a few seconds the entire wall peeled back as if it was made of paper. A dark void was revealed behind it. Julius turned and looked at the others behind him.
"Well, come on, don't tell me three Vulcan trained adults are afraid of the dark?" Julius teased as he rolled his eyes.
Without a reply they all followed the Romulan through the small passage way. Unlike the metal corridors that they had passed through earlier, the path before them was nothing but a large tunnel of dirt. The smell of the damp earth was refreshing to M'ara. The unease that she had been feeling earlier lessened its grip a little. The way was lighted by a small device that Julius brought with him. The beam of bright white light was wide and kept them from stumbling over the numerous rocks on the path. M'ara nearly fell forward when the walls and ground began to shake around her. Dirt and small pieces of stone feel into her eyes and hair. Fortunately her mouth was not open to in hail the dirt.
"They must have decided to try to collapse any escape tunnels," Julius warned as he grabbed her arm to steady her. Serin had her other arm and looked at Julius with a cold stare. M'ara knew that Serin must still not trust him. Knowing Serin's suspicious mind he probably thought that he could be leading them in to a trap.
"We have to get out of here, run as straight as you can. The end isn't much further ahead!" Julius bellowed as he let go of M'ara's arm and quickened his pace as much as the treacherous ground allowed as he lit their way. Spock was right behind Julius. He looked back ever so often in worry for Serin and M'ara. M'ara kept up beside Serin and used her hand to keep the dirt and debris from falling into her face as she ran. She could see a thin strip of natural light ahead and she reasoned that it had to be sunlight. Morning must have come. Since they found Spock, M'ara sense of time had been non existent. This was disconcerting to her. Normally she barely needed a clock to know what time it was all through out her day.
Everyone picked up their pace as they saw the opening. M'ara looked behind her and saw that the whole tunnel behind them had collapsed and they were only a few steps ahead of being buried alive. Spock grabbed her hand pulled her through the tunnels now very small opening to the bright warm morning light. M'ara took a deep breath, all the sprinting had left her extremely winded. Her eyes watered at the sudden brightness of daylight. After a moment M'ara realized that Spock had not let go of her hand. Spock looked up and realized the same and quickly released it. M'ara blushed, she knew that Serin must have watched this and it made her feel uncomfortable. She knew it shouldn't, Spock was only trying to get her safely out of the tunnel. However Serin was aware of her fondness for Spock and she didn't want to cause friction between father and son. M'ara knew this was also illogical. The last conversation that was between them was about abolishing the marriage contract. Serin probably wouldn't want her. Especially now that he knew she was not Vulcan but Romulan. The sadness that this knowledge caused was quickly restrained by M'ara's Vulcan training. Her feelings were hidden away to be analyzed at a more opportune time.
"The farming village is about twenty miles from here. The Brikar doesn't go near it because they have a contract with them. They get all the food they want if they stay clear from their property. It will take a day and a half to get there through the woods, but the Brikar wouldn't be able to find us in there very easily," Julius informed them breathlessly.
They all got to their feet and once again followed Julius. This time he guided them through thick green jungle. M'ara hoped that when they made camp Spock and Julius would explain what this whole thing was about. There were many questions that M'ara had about why Spock had come to Romulus and what Julius had to do with it. The trail that Julius had followed was not demanding and she soon fell into a comfortable quick pace. The jungle birds were loud and M'ara realized that their squawks covered the noise they made as they traveled through the brush. This was a comfort but also a concern since it would also make it difficult to hear if they were being followed.
When dusk finally arrived M'ara was exhausted. Julius found a nice shaded clearing near a small creek to make camp. M'ara couldn't have been more relieved at the news that rest was near. When the nighttime darkness fell M'ara ate her star Fleet rations bar and sat near the warm large rock that had been heated by Serin's phaser. A fire would give would give away their position too easily. A long silence ensued which M'ara was determined to not let continue. She knew she needed to speak to Julius but before she could face that she needed to hear it from Spock.
"Spock, I would appreciate total honesty between us," M'ara stated, all three companions looked at her in surprise that the silence was broken. Spock closed his eyes and opened them again and took a deep breath in the familiar way that M'ara had seen him do many times when he was thinking of what to say. His dark eyes were tired and even sad. His aged and now deeply lined face was unreadable. His dark hair drifted into his eyes that had now grown out since he came to Romulus and was no longer in the traditional Vulcan male cut. M'ara thought as she took in his appearance that the years have been rough on him, and his present was not any easier.
"Walk with me?" Spock asked as he got up and brushed him self off. M'ara figured that he would want to speak to her alone and she welcomed the opportunity. M'ara nodded and got up to follow him. Serin looked as if he was going to protest but Spock held up his hand and stopped him in his tracks.
"I owe you both an explanation and you will have it but separately," Spock stated sternly, Serin's lips thinned in agitation but said nothing.
Spock led M'ara to the creek nearby and sat down. M'ara sat beside him with her knees curled up. The air was quite cool to her warm blood. The moon reflected off the creek creating a picture that she thought only possible in a holodeck. After a few moments Spock put a hand on her shoulder and just rested it there.
"I regret that you had to find out about your father in this manner. There were many times I wanted to tell you. I had to keep silent to protect you. If anyone found out who you were they would have hunted you down. As they have done now. Your mother was killed for the same reason…"
"What reason?" M'ara asked when Spock hesitated.
"Because of me; Julius and I became friends when I met him during a rescue operation the Enterprise conducted. When he joined me on earth for awhile he met and married your mother. He and I wanted to change Romulus and Vulcan, to once again function as one. The Brikar was the biggest threat against this goal. Julius gained an opportunity join the Brikar to feed me information about the organization and took it. I told him it was too dangerous especially now that he had a family." Spock paused for a moment and looked at M'ara. She supposed so that he could gage her reaction. M'ara put a hand on his to encourage him to continue.
"He convinced me that it was a now or never situation and went through with his plan. Then my fears came true, someone within the Brikar wanted your father's position. They found out about your mother and had her killed by human Brikar operatives placed on earth. Your father killed the one who ordered you mother's death and kept your survival a secret. I helped bring her murderers to justice and brought you to Vulcan. It was all kept top secret. My involvement made the Brikar angry. I knew I had to go to Romulus to help get Julius out of there and that's when I was captured and I found out that they had found out that you were tied to me and wanted you dead and Serin as a hostage to get information from me. And that is the whole long and convoluted story. I can only ask your forgiveness." Spock said his voice was barley above a whisper.
"There is nothing to forgive Spock. You did what you could and kept me safe," M'ara replied as she closed her hand around his tighter.
Spock could feel her fondness for him through their touch and he looked at her with concern. She could feel what his words could not say. She had to tell him, to ease his mind.
"I have found my self …drawn to another," M'ara confessed openly.
"Serin?" Spock asked his tone soft.
"Yes, even though I am not sure his thoughts on the matter. I still care deeply for you but…"
"There is no need for explanation or worry. It is as it should be. You know I care for you as well but my katra has been deeply wounded twice now, once by my T'hy'la's Jim's death and then by Saavik's. Those lost bonds ran deep and I do not know if the emptiness that was left behind can be repaired; As much as I wish otherwise." Spock replied letting a little of the sadness of the thought of his losses seep into his deep voice. M'ara didn't say anything, she only sat there with him and shared his losses and feelings of guilt with him through there weak connection. She worried greatly for him, that he would end up alone. But that was illogical she knew, as long as she was alive he would not be alone, not really.
A/N- I'm sorry for the delay guys, and the shortness of the chapter. The next one should be longer and be put up much quicker. I made a mistake of trying to work on four stories at once and it slowed everything down. Not getting to many reviews for this story. I hope people are still interested in it.