The next day was full of activity for Amanda. She breakfasted at home, enjoying a meal which T'Iva prepared for her. She had been wary of Vulcan foods, but she was pleasantly surprised. Vulcans, apparently, had a passion for tea, and Amanda was happy enough to drink two cups with her meal, which was a pleasant egg dish with thick slices of bread studded with fruit and nuts. She'd barely finished when the hovercar arrived to take her to the Principle Building.
Amanda had taken care that morning to dress, asking T'Iva to help her with her clothing and hair again. She was getting the hang of it, but she still needed help with the complex twisting that was required to pin her hair up. This morning T'Iva had pinned it back in a simple but lovely style. Amanda couldn't help glancing at her reflection in whatever mirrors she passed. It was only that her appearance was so foreign to her, and she wanted to get used to it. Also, she thought she looked rather pretty.
Her attention to her appearance did not go unnoticed. When T'Sana greeted her - thankfully without Prais or Everard - there seemed to be approval in her observation of her appearance. The young woman wished her a courteous good morning, and Amanda was pleased to hear that she had given over Common for the Vulcan tongue. T'Sana gestured for her to follow her. Amanda trotted after her, her feet barely making any noise on the polished floor. She put it down to the thin little Vulcan sandals.
"Today, you will simply be touring the Science Academy. We would like to begin with the broader range of Vulcan educational systems before you view classes for younger students." T'Sana explained as they walked over towards a bank of elevators, whose doors slid open and closed silently to admit groups of somberly dressed Vulcans. "I myself will be conducting the tour. Unfortunately we cannot spare anyone else at the moment. The students are studying for their final exams, and the professors are constantly in demand." They waited a few moments for an elevator, which T'Sana ushered them into. She pressed a series of buttons, and Amanda was pleased to read the Vulcan numerals that labelled them.
"I understand." She said. "I will be happy to see anything you care to show me."
"Indeed." T'Sana said. "We thought it prudent to start your immersion into Vulcan culture slowly. I see that you are taking to it faster than we had hoped, however."
Amanda suppressed an urge to smile. As a naturally good natured person, she was used to smiling often, and it was difficult to stop herself whenever she wanted to. Fortunately, the longer she spent with T'Sana and the other Vulcans, the easier it was becoming. "Thank you. I want to adjust as quickly as possible - so that I have the most amount of time to learn."
"That is admirable." T'Sana said. The doors opened then, cutting off any further conversation as they negotiated their way around a group of Vulcans in the attire of students of the Academy. Amanda was finding it quite difficult to get past them without touching any of them. When she finally disentangled herself, they started off down a hallway, which somehow echoed in harmony with Amanda's memory of "school". Despite its alien design and architecture, there was something about it that announced itself as an educational institution. Amanda liked that.
"The tour will be brief, as there are many people that you must meet." T'Sana said, walking quickly down the hallway. There were large windows into the classrooms on either side of the hallway, and Amanda could see students working diligently within, their heads bent over PADDs, notes, lab desks, and even open electronics. "Many people of note are eager to meet you, Miss Grayson." T'Sana looked over her shoulder and caught Amanda's eye, and obviously read the surprise that was written too plainly there. "Not everyone was pleased about the formation of this cultural program, but there are many in the Academy who were firm supporters. I believe you have heard of the Vulcan concept of IDIC?"
Amanda nodded, speeding up a little to keep up with her host. "Infinite diversity in infinite combinations." She said.
"Yes, precisely. Many academics here hold strongly to that belief. They are confident that your presence here is a positive step towards the principles of IDIC." T'Sana stopped then - they had reached the end of the corridor. "I am among them. I am glad to see you here, Miss Grayson." There seemed to be a slight softening in her demeanor, which Amanda was both surprised and pleased to see.
"Thank you. I'm very glad of the opportunity. I will do my best to make the program a success." She said.
"Good. Now, we have just entered the main hall of the Academy. If I may point out the sculptural program..."
T'Sana led Amanda over what seemed the entire floor plan of the Academy, despite the Vulcan lady's assurance that it would be a short tour. Amanda didn't mind - she found the tour fascinating. She knew a little about the VSA from her studies back on Earth, but being in the actual building was like nothing she'd experienced before. She asked a great many questions, which T'Sana seemed pleased to answer, relating the history of the Academy and its importance throughout the history of Vulcan as a whole. Amanda was likewise fascinated with the architecture of the building. It displayed all of Vulcan's grand style, and she found it incredibly beautiful. T'Sana had just as much information on that as well, giving Amanda the run-down of the Academy's design and architectural program.
It seemed to Amanda that they had wandered for about an hour and a half before T'Sana clasped her hands behind her back and said "We must cut the tour short. I must bring you to the main conference room to meet the pudor-tor, honored ones." Amanda nodded, blinking in surprise. Honored ones? She felt at once curious and intimidated, although T'Sana gave off no signals that would suggest that Amanda should be afraid. Then again, T'Sana wouldn't dream of giving off signals. Amanda hoped that she would learn to detect the slight hints that Vulcans exchanged between each other soon. It was becoming frustrating to stop herself from reading into even the slightest change of facial or eye expression.
T'Sana took her up to the top floor above the main hall of the Academy. There was a long balcony that had a grand view of the entire room, all the way to the bottom floor where a large fountain burbled. Amanda was impressed by the view, but she had little time to admire it, as almost as soon as she and T'Sana reached the top floor, the central doors opened and T'Sana hurried towards them. Amanda followed, picking up her skirts in order to keep up with the quick Vulcan woman. T'Sana positioned herself just inside the door, and Amanda arrived just in time to see her bow to the elders seated around the low table in front of her.
"May I present Amanda Grayson, the cultural emissary from Earth." T'Sana was saying. She held out a hand to indicate Amanda, who managed to catch herself in time and bow respectfully. There were three Vulcans seated at the table before them, all in at least late middle age. Their faces were completely unreadable.
"Miss Grayson, may I present to you S'Haile Karek, the head of the Academy; S'Haile Ahror, the head of the linguistics department, and, oh, I believe you have met him before, Councilman Skon." T'Sana continued. Amanda's eyebrows would have shot up if she allowed them to. Here was Councilman Skon again? What did he want with her?
"Sarlah etek dvin-tor, I come to serve." Amanda said, extending the ta'al. If she was going to do this, she was going to do it right.
Karek returned the gesture, his face still as stony as before. "Vu dvin dor etwel, your service honors us." He said in reply.
T'Sana spoke up again, coming to stand at Amanda's elbow. "The elders are very interested in the program. They have devised the course of your studies while you are here on Vulcan. Councilman Skon was the main supporter of the program in the High Council." The Councilman nodded at the mention of his name. Amanda bowed again, not sure what to do or say. When in doubt, bow.
"I am honored for this opportunity, elders. I am eager to begin my studies." Amanda said, fighting to keep her face as smooth as possible. Smooth and calm, like the surface of a lake. As still and peaceful as a summer day.
The elders seemed pleased by her answer. They did not, however, invite her or T'Sana to sit, and Amanda felt awkward standing in front of them, like a naughty child standing before the disciplinarian. Ahror was the next to speak. His voice was as dry and dusty as an old leaf, but it sounded strangely soothing to Amanda.
"We are pleased to meet you at last. I myself hope to meet with you often in the coming months to discuss your progress. We will have much to discuss." Amanda just nodded. She didn't know how else to reply to that.
"Yes," Karek cut in, his voice significantly less pleasant than his colleague's. "It is necessary to remind you, however, that you must restrict yourself solely to the areas of the Academy and other educational institutions that concern your project. You are not to investigate anything that is not germaine to your assigned task. You will be granted access to certain knowledge bases by Elder Ahror or myself. You are not to stray outside of those bases for any reason."
A cold chill crept over Amanda. Karek's expression was just as calm and still as any other Vulcan she had met, but his eyes were flat and cold, foreboding. Ahror glanced at the Headmaster for a moment before turning back to Amanda. Aha, Amanda thought, he must have been one of the ones that wasn't so eager to have me come for a visit. She swallowed and inclined her head. "Of course, trensu, master." She said, trying to act with as much deference as possible.
"However, if you have any questions or concerns, you may direct them to me." Ahror said. "We are devoted to learning at this institution, in all forms." A weird feeling came over Amanda. It felt as though there were tension building between Karek and Ahror, but it was completely invisible, as neither of the elderly men had more than blinked. Perhaps this is what a bitter feud looks like through Vulcan eyes, Amanda thought.
"Thank you." Amanda said. She seemed to keep flinging these harmless words into the air because she couldn't think of anything else to say. It seemed to satisfy, thankfully. T'Sana bowed to the elder gentlemen and indicated with a look to Amanda that it was time for them to go. Amanda bowed as well and extended the ta'al again, which the elders returned with a sort of nonchalance. They had moved on to think of other things already. As they were leaving, however, Amanda was surprised to hear Councilman Skon behind her.
"Pardon me, Miss Grayson." She turned to see the imposing Councilman striding towards them on the balcony, his gray and black robes sweeping behind him like the wings of an elderly crow.
"Yes, Councilman?" Amanda asked, trying to keep any quaver out of her voice. T'Sana was already at attention at her side.
"I would like to inform you that I am hosting a celebration in honor of the success of the cultural exchange, tomorrow night, on my estates. I would be honored to have you and your fellows join me."
Amanda's mouth opened, but she shut it quickly. It wouldn't do to have her mouth hanging open in front of such an important dignitary. "Thank you very much," She managed to say, finally. "I look forward to it." She and the Councilman exchanged formal nods, and Amanda was just turning away when the Councilman spoke again, but this time not to her.
"Ah, Sarek. We are just finished here."
Amanda found herself looking into the face of the young Vulcan who had remained nameless on their journey from Earth. He barely glanced at her, striding up the steps towards the Councilman. He himself said nothing, only raised the ta'al in recognition of Skon's greeting.
"Miss Grayson, I would like to introduce you to my son, Sarek." Councilman Skon said, and Amanda did an awkward half-twist on the stairs in order to acknowledge the young man. She had never seen a Vulcan of her own age before, apart from T'Sana, who was at least a few years older than she at any rate. Now that she had a good look at his face, Amanda could see that he shared the same square jaw and strong dark eyes of his father. For some reason, however, the effect was much more pleasant on the Councilman. Where it made Skon look distinguished and proud-spirited, Sarek's expression was dark, maybe even surly. It made Amanda feel rather uncomfortable.
"Ha'tha ti'lu, good morning." The young man said, in an even stiffer voice than was customary for a Vulcan. Having uttered these two words, he turned immediately and began speaking with his father in rapid Vulcan, fast enough that Amanda couldn't catch what he was saying. T'Sana made a small noise beside her and Amanda turned away, eager to be away from Sarek and the Councilman.
The rest of the day passed in a blur of activity. Amanda met many more high-ups in the Academy before she and T'Sana went for lunch. Afterwards T'Sana took her to see the districts of the city where she could purchase necessaries, and pointed out directions for noted landmarks. By the time Amanda returned to her home in the early evening, her head was buzzing with all of the information she had absorbed that day. It was, to say the least, overwhelming.
She was able to relax when she got home, however, as T'Iva had prepared her a neat little dinner, and there was a bath waiting for her as well. This was a welcome blessing, and Amanda spent a good 45 minutes soaking in the hot water, letting the hot red dust of the Shi'Kahr streets flow off her skin. When she got out of the bath, Amanda noticed that there was a message for her on the little console in her bedroom. Still in her towel, she went over to it and tapped the screen to read it. It was written, of course, in the jagged and squiggly Vulcan script, but Amanda was far more comfortable with written Vulcan than she was speaking it.
Miss Grayson,
We have procured the services of an excellent meditation instructor for your usage. He will visit your home at 14h00 tomorrow to begin your lessons.
You have also been invited to attend a gathering at Councilman Skon's estate in the city tomorrow evening. T'Iva will be given instructions on your dress. The event begins at 17h30. A vehicle will pick you up at 17h00 to transport you to the event.
Sincerely,
T'Rea
In all of the excitement, Amanda had completely forgotten about the meditation lessons. She swore under her breath. On top of everything else, she was going to have to learn to meditate? She thought she'd been doing a pretty good job keeping her emotions suppressed so far. It seemed to her like these lessons would be a waste of time. Unfortunately, she had no choice. And in any case, she had been sent to Vulcan to absorb as much of Vulcan culture as she could, perhaps as much as she could stand. Meditation, according to T'Rea, was a vital part of what it meant to be Vulcan. Amanda would just have to struggle through it, just like everything else.
Amanda turned off the console and went to flop down on the bed. At least here she was away from any Vulcan eyes that might criticize her very Human act of flopping. She stared up at the ceiling, thinking. Her encounter with the Vulcan elders had shaken her a bit. It was the first time that she had come into contact with anyone who wasn't in full support of the program she was undertaking. Would there be many more like Karek? And Councilman Skon's son had been...unsettling. She wanted to make at least one friend while she was here on Vulcan. Was that impossible? Perhaps no sane young adult Vulcan would want anything to do with the crazy Human. She didn't want to spend the entirety of her trip alone, among elders and escorts. That sounded completely dreary. Maybe she could make friends with the children in the classes she would be observing, although she wasn't sure how much Vulcan children would be like the adults.
Well, Amanda thought as she went to put on her sleep attire, I suppose that's what I'm here to find out.
Amanda spent the next morning with T'Sana again. This time, T'Sana escorted her around the various educational institutions of Shi'Kahr, although they barely spent more than 15 minutes inside any one of them. Amanda did get to catch a glimpse of a few young Vulcans, even a few teenagers, although of course they didn't have a spot of acne among them. She was impressed, though, by the schools themselves. Beautiful libraries in each one - even those that taught quite young children had large study spaces, where little Vulcans poured over PADDs full of information. She managed to catch a glimpse of one of them as she and T'Sana walked by. She was amused to see the screen the little boy was pondering showed a picture of a starship, and beneath it, in clear lettering, was the word "STARSHIP". It seemed that these little Vulcans were learning to read.
Amanda asked T'Sana if the children had indeed been learning to read. "Oh, yes." T'Sana said. "Vulcan children learn to read around age three or four."
Amanda had to keep the surprise off her face. "Really? Humans don't learn properly until they're at least five years old." She said. "Most of their first year of schooling is devoted to it."
"Is that so? Generally our curriculum devotes only a week or so to the process."
"It only takes them a week to learn to read?" Amanda said, astonished.
"Well, most of them are comfortable reading by the time they get to school in any case. But it is important to give every child the same teaching, don't you agree?"
For the rest of the morning, Amanda found herself astonished by Vulcan practices everywhere. It was strange, how similar Vulcans could look to humans, and how very different they actually were. At one point, she saw a few elegantly dressed Vulcan ladies lounging around the entrance to a garden. She blinked, watching as they preened their hair and arranged their skirts.
"T'Sana, what sort of place is that?" She asked, pointing out the building.
"Oh," T'Sana replied dismissively. "It is a brothel."
Amanda couldn't help letting her mouth fall open. She looked back at the Vulcan women, who had noticed her attention and were watching her with calm faces. They were all very beautiful - Amanda wouldn't have thought twice if she saw them at an elegant party. "Do you mean those women are...prostitutes?"
T'Sana looked over at the building as well. "Yes." She said simply. "But they are not the same as the prostitutes you have on Earth. Vulcans do not need to fulfill desires like that. The brothels of Shi'Kahr are more like hospitals or...wellness centers. If a Vulcan's bondmate dies before they do, they often go into a horrible despair, which they sometimes cannot repair on their own. If a Vulcan is struggling with repairing his or her mind, they can visit one of these places and the employees will help them regain themselves."
"Oh." Amanda said, still reeling. "They sound like...therapists."
"Yes, that is a good analogy." T'Sana said, before pointing out something else of interest and steering Amanda away from the brothel. Amanda got the feeling that T'Sana was reluctant to speak more on the subject, and she let it pass. There were too many interesting things to see and hear about for her to dwell too long on the idea of Vulcan prostitutes.
Since her morning was so busy, Amanda had almost forgotten her appointment with the meditation instructor that afternoon. However, when she returned to her house, T'Iva was already waiting with her lunch and an air of anxiety.
"You must eat quickly, mistress, as your teacher will be arriving soon." She said, ushering Amanda into the house and pulling off the girl's light overcoat. Amanda groaned inwardly before hurrying off to eat. T'Iva was right - she had only half an hour before she was supposed to be presentable enough for a respected teacher.
Five minutes to two, Amanda was sitting downstairs in her little living room, her hair back in its tight pinnings thanks to T'Iva's quick fingers. The style had become a little frayed around the edges as Amanda traversed the city that morning. She was wearing something like a Vulcan house-dress, which was incredibly comfortable, and a pretty golden yellow color. Amanda was quite pleased with it, although she was afraid that it showed up the sunburn which she had inevitably received the day before from walking about. It wasn't long before there was a polite knock at the door. Amanda heard T'Iva go to it and open it. She stood as footsteps in the hallway suggested that her teacher was arriving.
The meditation instructor was certainly not what she was expecting. He was a youngish Vulcan, not many years older than herself, with light eyes and a face that was considerably more open than that of any other Vulcan Amanda had encountered. He bowed when he saw Amanda, and she returned the gesture, feeling puzzled.
"Good afternoon, Miss Grayson," The Vulcan said, and Amanda was doubly surprised to hear that he addressed her in Common. "I am Ataur. I will be instructing you on the art of meditation. I hope that you do not mind my speaking in the Common language. I am attempting to master it, and I would greatly appreciate conversing with a native speaker."
Amanda had to pause for a moment to gather her brain together enough to reply. "Of course not," She said, the Common syllables tumbling out of her mouth awkwardly after the battle she'd been having to fight against the Vulcan ones. "It is a pleasure to meet you. Please, come in." She stepped back in order to allow Ataur properly enter the room. He looked around with a clear hint of curiosity in his light eyes. They seemed to be a mixture of blue and green, a very attractive color in his pale face. After he had fully examined the room, Ataur loosened his limbs and took a seat on the carpeted floor, as if he were doing nothing more extraordinary than scratching his nose.
"Please join me," he said, indicating the floor in front of him with one long-fingered hand. Amanda did so, her puzzlement mounting.
"T'Rea has charged me with the duty to teach you to master Vulcan meditation." He began, resting his hands on his knees. "It is a very difficult and specific art, and one which not all can fully grasp. With diligence and practice, however, it opens a pathway to a calmer soul and mind. I assume you are familiar with how Vulcans use meditation to balance their emotions?"
Amanda nodded. "Yes, T'Rea talked with me about it before we left for Vulcan."
"Indeed." There was a hint of a smile in Ataur's face, which Amanda found both refreshing and off-putting, a strange mix of sensations. "Of course I cannot teach you to use meditation like a Vulcan would. However, I can assist you to use meditation for your own purposes. Did you know that Humans have been practicing a meditation of their own for many centuries?"
Amanda blinked. She did not know that, and said as much. "Ah, then I have a secret to impart to you. Humans can use meditative techniques almost as effectively as Vulcans to temper their emotional impulses. There were many masters of the arts in Human history."
"Pardon my asking," Amanda finally said, unable to restrain herself any longer. "How do you know this much about Human history?"
"Not all of Human history," Ataur said, and Amanda could have sworn that a smile played around his lips. "Only those sections concerning meditation. I have devoted myself to the practices of meditation, and my research has led me to study variants of it in many different cultures. You see, I too came to the practice late in life. I did not learn to meditate until I was sixteen years of age."
Amanda almost frowned, but caught herself just in time. "I thought that Vulcans were all taught how to meditate from childhood."
"Most Vulcans, yes. Unfortunately I was not born in a civilized place like Shi'Kahr. My family was killed on their small farm far outside the city by wild beasts. I alone survived, although I was quite small. I spent most of my life thieving to stay alive. I knew very little speech and I was completely unaware of the Surakian principles." Ataur tilted his head slightly to one side. "My nature was very similar to those of the ancient Vulcanoid peoples, before Surak brought them enlightenment. Do you know what happens to a Vulcan, should he neglect his control over his emotions?"
Amanda paused. She found that, in truth, she didn't know. She only knew that it was very important that they keep their iron grip on themselves. "No, I don't know." She said. With any other Vulcan she had met, she would have felt embarrassed for admitting it. But Ataur seemed freely able to communicate with her, almost like another Human. It was incredibly puzzling, and therefore made Amanda very curious.
"Vulcans tend to look down on Humans because Humans freely express their emotions. The common belief is that Vulcans do not have the same capacity for feeling as Humans do. The truth is, in fact, the contrary. Vulcans feel so powerfully that they can be overcome with their emotions incredibly easily. That is why we must strive so hard to control and balance them, as they have the power to completely undo us. That is why the practice of meditation is so vital to the Vulcan mind and soul." Ataur took a deep breath and closed his eyes. It was a long moment before he opened them again. "When I was finally found by patrols, I was completely wild, like a maddened beast myself. Under the careful tutelage of T'Rea and others, I was able to become a true Vulcan, but not until well into my teenage years. I learned to control my emotions, just as well, or perhaps better, than many others."
Amanda licked her lips - her question was burning them. "But...forgive me for saying this, you seem to be much less...stiff than the other Vulcans I have met."
Ataur nodded. "Yes, I allow myself a little bit of indulgence with my emotions, because I trust my ability to overcome them. I was able to become a true Vulcan and bring myself out of a maddened state - with careful teaching and help, of course. I know my limits. Others do not always see it this way, of course...I am not readily accepted as a real teacher of meditative practice because I do not always act entirely Vulcan. But, I believe T'Rea asked me to be your teacher because I have experience coaching an unwilling, raging soul to obey."
"I wouldn't describe myself as either unwilling or raging." Amanda said, a little huffily.
"Not at all. But, to a Vulcan, your inner workings might very well seem to be that way." Ataur said placidly. "Now, please sit as I am sitting. This is the proper posture for a meditative session." Amanda tried, but it took her a while to arrange all of her arms and legs into the right position. Even when she was sitting the right way, she didn't feel nearly as relaxed and comfortable as Ataur looked.
"The key to meditation is breathing. This is the tenet of both Vulcan and Human meditative practices. You must bend your breath to your will. If you wish to control your mind, you must begin by controlling your body." Ataur said. His eyes were closed now, his hands still resting on his knees, and he seemed completely and perfectly at peace. Amanda closed her eyes as well, trying to do as he instructed her.
The rest of the lesson was hard going. Amanda struggled hard to follow Ataur's instructions, but there was always a buzz of tension running through her body that would not be turned off or shooed away. Her shoulders twinged, her neck had a crick in it, she had a twitch in her eyelid. After forty five minutes of effort, Amanda was feeling spent. They hadn't even ventured beyond controlling the breath. Finally, though, the lesson was over, and Ataur stood up in one graceful movement. Amanda got up as well, but no where near as gracefully. Her legs had fallen asleep, and she made an awkward lurch as she got to her feet.
"You made brilliant progress today." Ataur said.
"I don't think I did," Amanda said, trying to stand formally but comfortably at the same time. She felt as though she needed another hot bath to work the tension out of her limbs. Wasn't the point of her mediation lessons to relax her, not twist her up in knots?
"Don't worry," Ataur said soothingly, his light eyes conveying approval even though his face remained calm. "I believe you have the potential to truly center yourself. Everything takes study and work, as I'm sure you are aware."
Amanda nodded. Ataur wished her a good afternoon and left, leaving behind a sort of freshness in the air. Amanda felt both annoyed and bemused as she went up to her bedroom. Unfortunately, she would have to spend the next hour getting ready for Councilman Skon's reception, or whatever it was going to be. Better try and work the kinks out of her body and mind before she ventured out there. It would be a huge failure if she lost her control in front of all the Vulcan dignitaries that were bound to be there.
Author's Note: Long chapter! I had a lot to squeeze in here, and I'm already off my plan. Oh well!