Chapter Thirty-two

The Desert Saga

With Lo'vaak gone Christine reviewed the visit they had enjoyed with his family. Something kept bothering her,

her sister-in-law's husband, she believed his name was Te'pek kept, very subtly, repeating a hand gesture…

similar to a person firing an imaginary firearm. He did this several times and moved his eyes to the side to

indicate the location of the threat. No doubt his main concern was for his pregnant wife, Lo'vaak's sister, Ta'na.

Christine was certain that if called to Lo'vaak's attention he would be able to replay the entire visit in his mind

and pick up on any additional clues that had escaped her notice. The only scenario that she could imagine was

that someone or all of those that they had picked up were Vulcan criminals or V'tos ka'tor. She attempted to

recall if there were any Vulcan penal colonies in existence—that sounded illogical because Vulcans were the

ultimate recyclers—rehabilitation would seem to be their option of choice, but of cause, she could be wrong.

She would inquire of Nyota and explain that the safety of Lo'vaak's family was being jeopardized. Through their

bond she sent Lo'vaak asking him to return as soon as his business was complete and then knowing he would be

concerned with her condition, added, she was okay.

`0`0`0`0`0`0`0`0`0`

On Lo'vaak's family's ship it was as Christine imagined. There was a criminal element aboard the ship, a lone,

deranged Vulcan named…Sybok. His singular focus was revenge, first against a father who he felt had betrayed

him and second toward a brother who had, in his opinion stolen his rightful inheritance. Sybok had stealfully

taken all the other Vulcans as prisoners. They were at his mercy, locked in a storage areas without food or water.

While it was so a Vulcan can survive long periods without those two essentials, physical needs would eventually

have to be addressed.

In actuality, he had no issue with them, they just would have been in his way as he forged his agenda. He would

allow them to remain unharmed, provide them with limited necessities until arriving at Terra. The original crew of

the ship was another matter altogether. He needed them because he did not have a clue as to the operation

of this ship. But he had concluded he would be able to instill unbounded fear in them. The younger, pregnant

female would provide the pivotal control over her family, especially her mate.

As a bonded Vulcan his focus would be her safety. He would certainly be able to use that powerful force to his

favor. He thought to himself how he would certainly enjoy the feel of a female besides him—to take her he would

have to do it in her husband's presence. What a destructive thought he had formulated, especially so since by his

powerful telepathic skills he could make her a willing and anxious partner. His lips twisted again in a sardonic

smile as he reveled in his estimation of his mental powers and as he twistedly interpreted, his level of genius.

`0`0`0`0`0`0`0`0`0`

Lo'vaak was still in Sarek's office when he received Christine's message. Sarek's acknowledged his need to attend

to his harmonically charged wife and told Lo'vaak he should have the necessary admittance information before

the end of the day. The perks that came to him due to his position assured Lo'vaak of the truthfulness of Sarak's

statement.

Lo'vak found Christine asleep in NyTu's bed. Her face was peaceful. He did not wake her but sat and studied the

picture before him and almost groaned with the intensity of his satisfaction. Once Christine awoke she revealed

her fears and Lo'vaak went to the com unit, he was pleased that he had saved the communication. This would

allow him and Christine to study it together. Just as Christine had mentioned, there was that repeated hand

gesture. Through the familiar bond he did detect a degree of uneasiness. He contacted Spock and Sirin and

relayed to them the impressions he had gained from the view of the transmission and then relayed a copy of the

communication to them both and voiced Christine's suspicions to them. The two other males shared the

information with their wives and they too agreed something was amiss.

`0`0`0`0`0`0`0`0`0`0`

Sybok, had a short fuse. His instruction for the males was to keep the ship on course. The women, Ta'Na and her

mother-in-law had been assigned to food preparation—a typical chauvinistic mindset, especially since Ta'Na was a

pilot on par with any male. When Ta'Na brought food to the bridge Sypok sat watching, phaser in his hand and

said to Te'nek,

"My brother, I am going to do you a favor. I will perform a scientific study involving your bondate.I will take her

here, I understand a joining with her would include three consciouses, I wil be joining with your offspring also.

Once she has had that experience she will be able to teach you much. The only problem I foresee is that she

might call out my name when…"

Te'nek's muscles strained, his grip on the console so intense that a piece splintered in his hand. A wicked smirk

twisted Sy'bok's face and he laughed and then warned, with a lifted finger,

Ahh, ahh, ahh, I have the upper hand here my brother. You certainly should know how to share—you know 'The

Needs' edict, mine would outweigh yours. No foolish moves, I know you want to live to see your firstborn. I will

not in anyway contaminate his DNA, I will just mold your beautiful mate into a creature of my liking. Rubbing his

hands together he said,

"I Iook forward to it with great relish."

Grasping Ta'Na's chin in his hand he shook it and said,

"You look forward to that also don't you? By the way, what is your name."

`0`0`0`0`0`0`0`0`0`0`

Spock, Lo'vaak, Surin and Sarak met the next morning to map out a plan. Spock revealed what Nyota had said

about the body language of Lo'vaak's family:

Lo'vaak's father, a true aged Vulcan revealed absolutely nothing. His sister's body language revealed fear as she

constantly touched her pregnant belly. Her husband's stance indicated suppressed rage, he, under more favorable

circumstances, e.g. if his bondmate was not involved, would have launched an attack against the armed

perpetrator. Ta'Na's in-laws, were old and virtually useless in this situation as was Lo'vaak's mother who stood

protectively next to her daughter. Her face mirrored a hopelessness.

The four males main objective was to insure the safety of the innocent passengers aboard the ship. What was

needed was additional intel from inside the ship. With that thought Lo'vaak excused himself and went to an empty

office to attempt a connection with his father. He felt that his father, as a full blooded Vulcan hearler would

probably be the most receptive to his efforts. Over and over Lo'vaak attempted to reach his father and finally he

heard faintly.

'My son, an emotionally compromised exceedingly deceptive Vulcan named Sybok, has taken over the ship,

imprisoned the other Vulcans, threatened to violate your sister and is constantly on the bridge. He apparently is

able to forgo sleep indefinitely. Please exercise caution. He has indicated that the main target for his adversity is

Ambassador Sarek and his son Spock.'

Lo'vaak returned to the males and made the inquiry of Spock,

"Do you know a V'tosh'ka'tor by the name of Sybok?"

Spock's stance did not change, nor did his face but his voice was reduced to almost a growl,

"Yes, to my dissatisfaction, I must inform you that he is my half-brother."

Lo'vaak continued,

"It is he that has taken my father's ship and taken the passengers prisoners."

Sarek, who had left the group to attend to a matter brought to his attention by his aide to chap was able to

discern negative influences from his son and met him and Lo'vaak in the hallway. Spock sent,

'Our rogue relative, Sybok is the criminal element aboard Lo'vaak's family's ship. Spock then informed his father

of what Lo'vaak had learned from his father's message.

Once Sarek and Lo'vaak and Spoke reached his office, they found Sirin in communication with Rachel. Then he

too was informed in detail of the situation. Sarek went to his desk and fingered his inter-office com unit and

requested that the head of security report to him.

`0`0`0`0`0`0`0`0`

Lo'vaak was again able to message his father,

'Father, the renegede aboard is not a pilot. You can test this by initiating actions which while not dangerous will

cause a disturbance in the smooth running of your ship. Please do this while he is on the bridge and make an

acceptable description of a supposed danger, explain that Te'vek will have to go to engineering and check certain

workings of the ship.

Lo'vaak's father, Si'len, at the helm followed through and silently advised Te'nek by performing a dry run of

exactly what he would do. The result was a ship that virtually hiccupped, as it repeatedly jerked and launched

forward.

Si'len, shouted to his co-pilot that the dampener was off-line and it had to be adjusted to compensate. As his son-in-law remained seated, the pilot slid his foot over to tap on his son-in-law's foot reassuringly. Falling into the deception, Te'nek started to adjust dials that had absolutely nothing to do with their flight and finally said,

"I have to go to engine room. It will take more than two hands, I need to take Ta'Na to assist me."

He looked at Sy'bok for permission who simply said, take your father, I will hold her here as a guarantee…don't worry, I will not touch her unless you are present to observe my handiwork. Remember, I will not allow deception."

Te'nek thoroughly understood why his father-in-law wanted him in the engine room. There was a separate communication unit housed there. He would have to contact Star Fleet or find a way to advise his brother-in-law of the present state of affairs.