Before Kirk can reply their surroundings change again. He can feel Cmdr. Spock's grip tighten on the hand he has never let go of since they entered this place. Kirk instinctively pulls him closer to his body and this time he can actually sense the easing in Spock as he pulls him closer again.
He looks around, to see a sort of living room with chairs and a couch. Tastefully decorated in neutral tones that fits the intricate scrollwork that's along the ceiling and walls. Kirk can tell by looking at the scrollwork that this is a Vulcan home. A rather aged one if the scrollwork is anything to go by. Some of it looks to be pre-reform. He feels Spock leaned further into him. So that Kirk is almost supporting him entirely. He feels the trembling start.
On cue, there is that piercing scream again. However, Kirk is beginning to get the idea that no matter what he has to work through this step-by-step. If he's going to figure out what's going on so, using his skills a focus on the moment. This moment. Apparently, this is what he is meant to see. Or at least part of it.
He absolutely detest doing it, but he knows that it's necessary. If what he suspects is happening.
Forgive me k'diwa. He thinks to himself. Then reminding himself that this is in the Mindscape, and it is imperative that control be maintained. He gives his Cmdr. a harsh shake.
"Report Cmdr.!" At first, Spock blinks rapidly, as if he is confused and then he focuses on Kirk.
Setting his jaw for more than one reason. Kirk once again demands . "I'm waiting Cmdr. report!"
He watches with some relief as the mental image of his Cmdr. somewhat improves and draws himself straighter. Just as he hoped it would. He's beginning to suspect that there are some programmed responses in Spock's mind. Which sort of pisses him off because he knows that someone had to put them there.
"Still waiting Cmdr."
His face doesn't show it, but his eyes show somewhat of an appreciative or thankful look.
"Yes sir, this appears to be a representation of my father's house on Vulcan."
Kirk nods. "Yes, I surmise that much. Any idea why were in this representation?" Kirk asked, watching Spock closely. Noticing the tightness around his eyes as he opened his mouth to speak. Although his words become unnecessary as they were both startled. As a version of Sarek came gliding in the room. Followed by a somewhat dejected looking Spock. Or at least as dejected looking as a young Vulcan could be.
It's not lost on Kirk that the commander beside him is now wearing his emotionless mask, though his hand once again tightens painfully on Kirk's. He doesn't move closer. He however notices Kirk watching him and flicks his eyes to the scene going on before them.
Sarek moving around behind his desk. Spock standing at attention with his hands clasped rigidly behind his back.
"You wish to speak to me father?" Kirk watches. Interestedly. As Sarek just continues to stare at young Spock until young Spock lowers his eyes and asked the same question. In high Vulcan.
[You wish to speak with me. Father?]
This time, Sarek inclines his head.
[When she who is my wife, your mother is here we speak standard in this house. Out of courtesy to her. When she is not here. I expect you to speak as the proper Vulcan you claim to want to be.] Kirk grit his teeth at that, but he focused and continued to watch. As young Spock just nodded.
[Yes father, am I to understand then that mother is not here?]
Kirk watched getting more and more irritated as Sarek's eyes narrowed on Spock and he answered.
[No, she who is your mother and my wife is not here. Am I to understand that you were not aware of this? Her absence is one of the things I wish to discuss with you.]
[No father was not aware that mother had business elsewhere.]
Sarek just stared at young Spock for a few minutes.
[Really well. Apparently, your mother has decided to visit her sisters for a while. On earth. However, I'm of the mind that she may have had other plans. As she has never in all her years of living on Vulcan expressed a want to go to earth to visit her sisters. Yet she finds out about that boy being expelled from Vulcan. And suddenly she finds that she needs to visit her sisters on earth.]
Neither Sarek in the vision nor Kirk watching missed the fact that when Sarek mentioned "the boy" Young Spock flinched. Kirk waited. To see what would come next. He watched as Sarek just sat there watching young Spock. Kirk was quite proud that young Spock exhibited no sign of restlessness. He would've been fidgeting all over the place. At that time.
Finally, Sarek speaks. [So, am I to understand that you claim to have no idea why she who is my wife, your mother has decided to take a trip to earth?]
[I have never melded with mother. Therefore, how am I to know the mind of your mate father?]
Spock's words held no inflection. However, Kirk watching the scene couldn't help his lips twitching at the obvious sarcasm in that answer. Nor, it appeared was it lost on the Sarek of the vision for his eyes narrowed even
further.
[Do I detect what the humans refer to as sarcasm in your last response. My son?]
Young Spock drew himself up straighter.
[No father, you do not because sarcasm is a product of irritation or annoyance or some other negative emotion which does not apply to me as I am Vulcan. I was merely stating the fact that since I have never melded with mother. I cannot offer a definitive answer as to her motives.]
Both continued to stare at each other.
[If you are truly Vulcan then you cannot lie. You say you do not know anything of your mother's motives.—
[I said I could not speak with surety of mother's motives. Though I freely admit that we both discussed the injustice of the boy Kirk being made to leave and he was just trying to defend me.] The rest of what Spock was going to say is frozen his throat as he sees the severe look on Sarek's face.
[Defend you. Yes, I heard all about the supposed defense. On my way to the Council. Everyone was abuzz with how the human child decided to petition for an audience with the lady T'pau on your behalf. I do not understand how he would know to do such a thing, nor why he would bother, or should I say I did not understand. He spoke of the most illogical and outlandish tales to the eldest mother. Although I will state that witnesses said he was phenomenally respectful in his address to her for human. Especially human child. It made no sense at first. Especially since though, he was willing his guardians refused to let the lady T'pau meld with him to see the validity of his outlandish claims. I could not fathom why someone especially relative strange human child would go so far. Or know how to. That is until T'pring came to me and told me the truth of what happened. As well as the fact that due to this incident she would be petitioning the Council for the disillusionment of your betrothal.] Although they were just watching this occurrence in the Mindscape as a memory. The tension was not lost on Kirk. Despite his
training he found himself holding his proverbial breath in the Mindscape. As he watched the interaction between Sarek and young Spock.
[Have you nothing to say Spock? Your lack of reaction leads me to believe that what T'pring said after all she is a full-blooded Vulcan female from a good house. Therefore, it is quite impossible for her to lie outright.]
Kirk becomes aware of his Spock or the mental image of his Spock rather shifting minutely beside him just as his younger counterpart did in the memory. They were with nothing. Kirk does his best to sooth his Spock by allowing his mental image to smooth circles over the back of the hand that is currently holding his in a vice grip. He is quite sure that if he didn't have the mental fortitude. He did he would probably have bruised, if not broken fingers when they exited this meld. He watches becoming increasingly annoyed training be damned. As young Spock opens his mouth. Meeting his father's eyes and then in the next second drops his head.
[Although I am not happy about the absence of she who is my wife. It does present us with an opportunity. It is apparent. Given this latest incident that something else need be done to help you in your endeavor to accept the Vulcan way. So I have arranged for you to spend some time at GOL.] This time both Kirk and young Spock. Hisss while beside him. Cmdr. Spock's breathing speeds up. Given what you've already seen, you can pretty much guess where this is going to go. It is nowhere. Pretty so screw it you pull the commander closer. So that you cheeks are barely touching. "Easy k'diwa I'm here. I'm sorry you have to experience this again whatever's going happen but I'm here. I need to see if I am to help." Kirk doesn't take his eyes off the scene before him. However, he does feel the slight nod of acquiescence against his cheek. He does his best to send appreciation, admiration and love out to Spock.
[No…] Young Spock said quietly.
Sarek cocked an eyebrow. [What was that Spock speak your mind.]
[I do not wish to go to Gol.]
[I do not remember inquiring about what you did or did not wish for. I simply said during this time he will attend Gol where they will help you attain clarity in the Vulcan way.]
[I do not need to go to Gol for that.]
[This debacle with your betroth would say otherwise. She-
for the first time young Spock shows a reaction other than nonplussed as he cuts his father off in an admittedly very un-Vulcan like fashion that he had seen his mother do upon occasion, wishing fervently that she was here. He knew as he suspected so does his father, given his mention of an opportunity while his mother was a way that there was no way his mother would have agreed to some "time" event at GOL for this purpose and his age. In fact, he knew that his mother found the entire concept of the Kolinahr to be disconcerting...
[Father, while I do not know what T'pring may or may not have said to you. I do know that neither of us to wanted to be betrothed to the other. She has been looking for a way out. Since our first meeting. I very much doubt that the events of the other day have anything to do with her actually wanting to dissolve the betrothal. I believe it just makes a more plausible excuse that's acceptable enough to save face. Given that thanks to Jim the Council knows about the incident. However, she has made it quite clear since the day of our first meeting that she in no way was happy to be betroth to a halfbreed. In fact,- ]
[save your excuses. T'pring has already told me of your accusations concerning her and Stonn. She stated that your belief that something inappropriate is going on between her and Stonn has been an issue for a while and also probably the reason you thought it would be okay to engage in inappropriate conduct with that boy. She informed me that she had not brought this issue forward before because she did not want to cause embarrassment to our house by implying that you were acting upon the very un-Vulcan emotion of jealousy. She apologized for Stonn's aggressive behavior toward you and explained that he was simply trying to defend the honor of a member of his house who is being disrespected as your behavior with the human boy was in complete disregard of your betrothal to T'pring.]
[Father!] At this point, Kirk could see that Spock's control was indeed slipping and he was also well aware that while it was very much warranted. It would just be another incident for Sarek to use against Spock justifying his so-called helpful plan.
At Sarek's raised eyebrow due to young Spock's increased tone. Young Spock, visibly forced himself to calm and breathe.
[It's not an accusation, if it is true. T'pring has never truly wanted to be betroth to me. She is only interested in the prestige of being a member of the house of Saurek. As she frequently reminds me through the bond is Stonn she would rather be mated to. This is why he goes out of his way to "defend" her honor. As well as trying to provoke an emotional response from the Publicly as he did talking about mother that previous incident.—
[So, I'm to understand that you are calling this full-blooded female liar? That you did not engage in lewd inappropriate conduct in public by holding hands with this human. Even though you are betroth?]
[He did hold my hand but not in the way that she or you are implying. After he intervened on my behalf with Stonn and His friends. Who by the way were in the process of disrobing me when we were discovered by Jim. He reclaimed my robes and then we took off to get away. As I informed him that I was not supposed to engage in physical altercations. For he had asked me why I was not fighting back. We had moved so fast that the robe was not secured as tightly as it should've been. I almost tripped on the hem when he caught me. Pullin me forward by the hand to hasten our departure from our pursuers. As I have never held hands with anyone. The influx of emotion caught me off guard. So, I was slow to react. I could tell, though, that he meant nothing sexual in the way another Vulcan would take the gesture he was only concerned and wary that our pursuers would catch up with us. After a minute or so, I removed my hand from his and explained that such a gesture was very intimate and inappropriate with a Vulcan. Even half-Vulcan. He apologized. Then he started to ask me questions about why I was not defending myself. I explained him that physical violence was not the Vulcan way. And that my father would be displeased if I got into another physical altercation.]
[And all of this seemed logical to you? Not the least little bit too convenient. This boy just happens to show up. A boy whom supposedly you've never seen before this incident—
[I had never met James before he intervened on my behalf. Though I had been told—
Getting in an altercation with your betroths guard. Then so innocently grabs your hand. Publicly? I find that hard to believe considering your little Savior is apparently a known teenage prostitute.]
At this. The old pair watching the memory replay itself both tense for their own very different reasons. The captain because he was almost afraid to hear young Spock's response. Young Spock. Because now that the memories have returned. He knows that this was the outburst on which Sarek had pinned all of his justification for his next actions. Actions that had apparently led to years of living with pain and some of the problems that they are now dealing with.
[Do not speak of my T'hy'la in that manner. Especially when you know not what you speak.] Kirk who was watching the exchange couldn't help the utter shock that rippled through him that young Spock's response to Sarek given his reactions thus far. He glanced over and took in the sad expression on his commanders face. Which to him was slightly confusing, but he focuses attention on the scene happening before them at the commanders nod.
[Excuse me…] Sarek said incredulously. Then before Younger Spock could respond. He nods his head as if he had just answer his own question. [I believe I understand now, you told your mother of this ridiculous notion that this prostitute is your T'hy'la and being the overly emotional romantic human that she is. She believed you and she's probably off on earth somewhere, searching for the delinquent but she won't find him, because he's not on earth. He was sentenced to Tarsus for attacking a member of a high counselor's family.]
[No…] Young Spock breathed.
They watch to, Sarek nodded. They also watched young Spock's anger gathering. [Why would you allow them to sentence him to Tarsus when he was defending your son.]
[Because I don't believe he was defending my son. I believe that he was manipulating my son. Who happens to be a prominent member of the ruling House of Vulcan and worth a lot. Just the kind of individual that people of his ilk pray on. I had thought perhaps T'pring was mistaken. However from your reaction which I must say is quite emotional for one dedicated to the Vulcan way. It appears that she is most correct in her concern for you.]
At this young Spock actually openly scoffed.
[Spock! Control yourself and you wonder why I'm intent on sending you to GOL for training.]
[Tell me father, why did you marry mother a human. If you have so little respect for humans or half humans, such as your son, why marry a human at all? It seems, no matter what happens no matter what I say it's not important. You always take the word of a full-blooded Vulcan over your own son, regardless of the circumstance. I don't know what you mean by those of his ilk… Yes, James Kirk has participated in prostitution but not of his own volition. His mother is in Starfleet, and he is left under the care of his stepfather who frequently sells his stepsons body to pay off debts that he incurs. James has tried to report this on numerous occasions to his mother and other authority figures, but much like you. He has been turned aside his mother because if she acknowledges what's happened then that would mean having to leave space and take the ground posting to take care of her son. Whom she can barely look at because of his resemblance to her dead husband. Even with all that he managed to study and be the first human to get top marks at the Vulcan science Academy his and my scores differed by one point in one category. Learning at the science Academy was meant to be his escape "from his stepfather's business ventures" even knowing this, he still stepped in to help me. And now apparently, he's paying a price he shouldn't be paying. No matter what you think.]
Sarek stared at his son intently.
[If what you say is true and you only met this James once briefly the other day then you couldn't have possibly gathered all that information through touching his hand.]
Father and son just stared intently at each other.
Until finally, Sarek says. [You melded with him. You who refuses to meld with myself and or any other family member even your own betrothed melded with this human prostitute. Do you have any idea what you've done?!]
[Found my T'hy'la—
[no! You have insulted a member of a prominent house. You have violated your betrothal bond by sharing your mind with another who is not your betroths or a healer or a member of your family—
[no, he's more than that, he's my T'hy'la—
[Enough! I will entertain no more of this nonsense! This is my own fault for indulging your mother allowing her to fill your head with that pre-reform nonsense. In place of the human fairytales that she wished you to learn. Looking back on it I probably would've been better off to indulge her and that instead of the pre-reform material. Although I did think that studying the literature of pre-reform would give you a better knowledge of history, however I expected your logic to be strong enough to tell fact from fiction. I can see now that I was wrong. Maybe it was the fact that it was your human mother who instructed you in the pre-reform literature—
Cue, Another Growl. [Don't do not blame mother or disparage mother she who is your "mate" because you do not like my actions. James Kirk is my T'hy'la. He sensed my distress from several blocks away and was drawn to help me despite the risks to himself. That is the very definition of T'hy'la.]
This time it was Sarek's images scoffed. I'm supposed to believe that even though there have never been any other cases of T'hy'la since the time of Saurek and Solkar you my halfbr-human son are suddenly bond and under one of the most sacred bonds to our people?]
[Kadiith father]
this time three people watched as Sarek visibly fought for control his jaw clenching.
[Enough! I was hoping I could make you see reason so that GOL would not seem so necessary but I see now that was a futile hope. I would suggest you go to your room and meditate on the illogic and improbability of your current stance. As well as writing an apology to your betrothed. Or prepare yourself for a stay at GOL.] Sarek held up a hand. Unfortunately, I can see the expression on your face is one of protest. I do not want to hear it. It does not matter you will be going to Gol. Willingly or otherwise.] Kirk couldn't help a little twinge of pride as young Spock nodded curtly turned on his heel and did the Vulcan equivalent of stomping up the stairs in protest to his bedroom. His amusement was short-lived, though, when he seen the look on his commanders face. He knew there was more unpleasantness to come. Just as he was about to ask his commander what was next. The image of Sarek hit the com button on his desk. All he said was [ it's time.]
