Sarek and Dansk
Chapter Twenty-three
The morning dawned and the entire embassy was astir. First meal was served and Dansk was seated next to T'Pau at the head of the table. Sorin and T'Paal were still inseparable and were seated at the far end, next to one another at the right of Sarek, whose eyes showed his fatigue. With the meal completed the group moved towards the lobby where the group traveling with them had assembled.
Drevi, Bettie, James and Laura would accompany them on this trip. James had been rewarded with this privilege because of his cooperation with Sarek in regard to reporting the incident that had taken place outside of Wong's. He and Laura would also be witness to Sarek and Dansk bonding ceremony. Sarek determined that he would give James permission to list his and Dansk bonding in the wedding announcement section of his newspaper.
When T'Pau came into the lobby, Spock, Lo'vaak and Sirin were already present with their families. Two Vulcans from the settlement, Su'aurk and S'nass, known to the family, were present and introduced to T'Pau, who received their homage, then left their presence to speak with the children. These two residents of the settlement, who had piloted a settlement transport for the removal of the prisoners, were accompanied by five highly trained Vulcans who would supervise their passengers. There was no need for them to be armed, for with the training they had received since the age of three, they themselves were weapons.
Before the prisoners' scheduled arrival at 0900 hours, everyone but Sarek was aboard their means of transportation. At exactly the prescribed time the penal vessel landed in the embassy parking lot and armed guards escorted the three males off the shuttle. Sarek approached and made the request to remove the shackles from the prisoners. The guard got ready to question the request but then he was advised that there was no need for such restraints because Vulcan security was already aboard the ship that would transport the three males, the guards understood. Sarek signed the release papers and the guards removed the three males' restraints.
All of the males were rubbing their chaffed wrists as they were escorted to their vessel. Once they entered they saw five neatly dressed, unarmed Vulcan males who ordered them to seats in various sections of the craft. They would not be allowed to have contact with one another.
Once Sarek entered and the necessary ceremonial salutes were exchanged between himself and the guards, then one of the security persons closed the door, S'nass started the initiation sequence and the engines started. There was slight vibration as the vessel lifted and moved forward since it would serve as lead ship. Spock and Sorin were piloting the second ship. The route the two ships would take would not allow for visual landmarks that would allow any to find their way to the settlement without an escort.
Because of the chosen route the trip took forty-five minutes and as the two ships settled onto the new shuttle ports that were now part of the enlarged parking area, the families disembarked first and were nowhere to be found by the time the prisoners disembarked.
T'Pau approached the three and said in unaccented Standard,
"Welcome to Ah'rak kya. Thee are now on Vulcan soil, under Vulcan rules and Vulcan control. You will not receive any severe punishment here for we are a peaceful people. We have brought you here to educate you. Of course, since that is the case, the effectiveness of our efforts is entirely up to each one of you. You will be housed with Vulcan males in dormitory style housings. Before you are taken there we wish you to witness something that most Terrans are unaware of. Sarek and T'Pau led the way to the gymnasium where several young Vulcans were sparring.
The moves were lightening quick, and recovery immediate. Eventually the ring was filled with six males, ducking, dodging and flipping at speeds that were difficult to follow.
T'Pau mentioned to the three, as a subtle warning,
"Vulcan males start the study of martial arts at the age of three Terran years. They never stop learning or improving in their skills. The ones performing before us are novices. The more advanced can kill with one finger and can immobilized with one solitary move. So that you are aware, every male in this compound has trained in this manner of defense.
You will always be in company with one of the males who live here. The compound is quite large and the only source of water for many miles is right here in our fenced area. The inhabitants outside of this area are called Native Americans and these are our allies. We would prefer you to remain with your guides because we do not desire you to become lost.
While here all three of you will be assigned to a work detail. The settlement is always growing as indicated by the continuing building and changes. The co-pilot of the ship that transported you here is the coordinator for the work here. He will supervise your work and report to me about your cooperative efforts.
Vulcans are vegetarians. Three meals are taken here at the settlement. First and Second Meal are usually eaten together at the dining room. Last meal can be eaten at home or jointly. All of our meals are eaten in silence. We Vulcans do not like to view half masticated foods or such food to exit the mouth during speech. We expect you to respect this tradition that we hold to without exception. Each one of you will have domicile in a different dormitory. Your belongings have already been taken to The Welcome Center. We have a visitor's registry that you should sign and then you may be refreshed by our water."
Already, T'Pau could discern which ones of the males would respond positively to this educational program. The two who appeared to be the youngest seemed to display an air of excitement and adventure while the older had what Terrans would call, 'a look of disgust' on his face. He would be the one that would require a heavier training, a lesson in humility was in order.
When they reached The Visitor's Center the three were asked to sign The Book of Welcome. Sarek then brought a tray that contained glasses and pitchers of water and juice. He served the males as if they were guest and he identified the crackers, biscuits and fruit that were available for their consumption, if they so desired. The two younger ones said, "Thank you," while the older hunched over his food and devoured it greedily.
Once the group was through, the 'guest' were led to their quarters were they found that a clean bed had been provided and their personal goods had been placed on their beds. The door of each dormitory was unguarded or so it appeared. The older of the three thought to himself that he had 'lucked' upon a golden opportunity. Of course, nothing could be further from the truth.
What neither one of them was aware, was that a homing devise had been placed in each of their footwear. Of course, no one would leave to walk on the burning desert sand without shoes so there was no danger of any of the three 'getting lost'.