Chapter Twenty-six
The Desert Saga
When Spock returned with the couples he took the males into the library thinking how fortunate for them they had been
excused from the illogical Terran tradition known as a bridal shower.
The females gathered in the family room to celebrate with the brides-to-be. There were the usual practical and impractical
gifts given, experiences voiced and best wishes expressed. Afterward the women expressed their appreciation and holo-pics
were taken, even one with their festive 'hats' made with gift wrappings and bows.
Esther rose to leave and told Rachel she would go home to be there for the children. Rabbi Goldie looked at her watch and
realized she had an appointment across town in thirty minutes.
Once they had left Michele asked,
"Skoon said that you had to advise me of important matters having to do with our intimacy."
Hilda's eyes widened.
It was almost as if a director of a play had cued Rachel, Christine and Nyota to say the same line,
"They bite."
Both of the prospective Vulcan bondmates gasped.
Christine explained,
"Not a chew bite just a bite, bite."
The puzzled look on the two women's faces remained. So Nyota started,
"Anciently the picking and securing of a Vulcan female mate was a violent, blood spilling affair. As we said to you, Vulcans
are passionate, emotional beings who after centuries of training and acceptance of Surek, their greatest philosopher and
leader led them from their violence into a different mindset, one of logic, calm and restraint. Anciently, once a mate was
secured, just prior to the joining of minds and bodies a Vulcan would place a sign ownership upon her body. This is not a
voluntary act, on their part, it is part of their DNA, part of their physical urgings. The three female Vulcan bondmates
revealed the mark of ownership that their mates had created, each a slight mark on their collar bone, a small circular scar,
their mates 'mark of possession.'
Smiling Rachel said,
"Believe me by the time he tells you what he is about to do, you would agree to anything so that you two can be joined.
The act itself does not register as painful, just another step towards the 'coming to perfection'. Their love making is
extraordinarily pleasurable and prolonged. They will reveal each step they will take before they perform it and the steps
they take are persuasive and Hilda and Michele, there will be fireworks."
They were smiles all around. Hilda was the first to speak
"If they are willing to accept our alien kisses, then we should be more than willing to display his alien mark of his possession. I think I would find it most comforting, a more powerful sign than a wedding ring which can be lost."
Michele added,
"I can imagine that I would finger that mark when he is absent from me as a reminder he would return."
As if by silent summons the males came into the room, each one approaching, for the bonded,
the hand communication for the other two, the kissing of palms. For each couple a feeling of
satisfaction was felt, and plans were made.
`0`0`0`0`0`0`0`0`0`
Hilda and Michele stood in Nyota's kitchen facing the first female Vulcan they had ever seen. Her face was, of course,
without expression, her black hair in braids in swirls atop her head, her face was lined her hands inside her robe's sleeves.
Besides her was a bubbly Nyota, a marked contrast.
"Michele, Hilda, this is T'Paal, my Vulcan 'mother'. She basically runs this house, takes care of all the children and gives
them additional training in The Vulcan Way. Today she has agreed to assist you in understanding your Vulcan mate's
dietary requirements and some household information and the preparing of meals for your Adun."
They was the accepted nod of acknowledgement and then in heavily accented Standard T'Paal said,
"Your aduns will not accept any food into his body until he has placed food before you and you have begun eating. This is
our way, it is the recognizing of the importance of the female for continued life—through the producing of offspring, and the
servicing of their needs during Pon Farr.
Due to a higher metabolic rate. Vilcans require the most nutritious food possible. We do not eat anything that hands have
touched so we have developed several utensils that are foreign to you. Pointing to an unusual item she said,
"We use this one to retrieve small articles for consumption. The women looked at it, it could be best described as a spoon
tong. As part of a table setting was an article similar to a knife but with a large sharp bladed flat surface. Apparently a
Vulcan table setting also included two small spoons and two large ones.
T'Paal now said,
"As you know, Vulcan meals are taken in silence that allows us to focus on the task in hand. That is how all activities are
addressed—with complete, or total focus. That is 'The Vulcan Way'.
"On Terra I have noticed that you have a variety of breads—we have just one, flat bread. Its preparation is quite simple. I
will now instruct you in its preparation.
The ingredients were gathered, assembled and placed in pans and then put in the oven. While waiting for it to bake, she
now addressed breakfast and first stated,
"A very acceptable breakfast is a Vulcan soup the ingredients can be placed in a overnight cooker so when your mate arises
early in the day to meditate he may eat if he so desires."
T'Paal laid out the ingredients, they chopped them together, put them and liquid in the pot
along with spices and started the cooking process.
"We eat almost every Terran vegetable, either steamed, boiled or even fried. We eat no animal
products, even their juices, bullion, stock or fats are not acceptable. Any stocks used must be
vegetable based. We are especially fond of spicy foods, curries, rice and pastas.
Now to the subject of water. Our home planet water supply was limited, rain was considered almost sacred so a certain
expression evolved, When leaving a host's home you would say,
"We have been refreshed by your water."
A Vulcan will never leave water unconsumed in a glass—it would be highly disrespectful of something almost sacred.
"Instead he would refuse water unless he was certain he could drink the entire amount. In addition, water would not be left
in a glass to sit, it would be consumed before its freshness would be negated. There is never a pitcher of water always
glasses are filled and placed at each table setting. All foods brought to the table are served from covered dishes. Napkins
are a necessity and usually a table cloth is welcomed."
Nyota marveled, she had never heard T'Paal utter more than two sentences at a time. In this setting she had taught an
entire class. She would be most useful to any future training of prospective Terran bondmates. She would speak to her as
to her continued services in that area.
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Immediately after T'Paal's instruction, isolation begain. The women would be housed at Spock and Nyota house, the males
at Su'uark and Ellie's apartment.
The males had the freedom to leave the apartment and visit areas around that apartment complex. The women would
continue to be instructed.
The males had received the rest of their instruction while in the library with the bonded males. All questions had been
answered, information about Terran female physicality and the cautions to be put in place because of their superior
strength. Now all that was unanswered was their personal experience with their bondmates. The males were encouraged to
engage in meditation and some sort of physical exercise program during this time.
`0`0`0`0`0`0`0`0`0`
With so much physical and mental activity, the time passed swiftly and the day of bonding was upon them. Spock and the
other males appeared at the apartment door with their robes. Whenthey exited the vehicle they would immediately go into
the rose garden to await the arrival of their intended. The DAY was upon them.