Chapter Thirty-six
The Desert Saga
Spock stood poised outside Si'len's door, getting ready to knock when a female voice was heard,
"You may enter Osu Spock,."
Seated by a window was Lo'vaak's mother.
"I sensed your presence, I already know that the one you are seeking is my husband. He has sequestered himself in The
Embassy library. I have no idea as to the time of his return. You will find him there. "
Spock nodded as acknowledgement of the information received and in farewell and made his way to the location given to
him. He discovered the focus of his search literally buried in a stack of books. He was like a famished man led to a never
ending supply of food. There was no way for Spock to determine the last time this elderly Vulcan had been able to
mentally refresh himself as he was now relishing. Spock could appreciate Si'len's desire for knowledge had to be satisfied,
his mind had to be refreshed with new findings that would aid him as a healer. Findings from every part of the galaxy were
there for him to absorb and apply. Spock spoke his greeting.
"Ðif-to heh smusma." (Live long and prosper).
The acceptable response was returned graciously.
The older man of wisdom and insight spoke,
"T'hylara (friend) of my son, speak,"
Spock responded,
"There are questions that require answers in order for me to continue as advisor to the young men that were aboard your
ship. Inform me, how were you able to rescue them without opposition from their captors?"
The older male closed his eyes and beckoned for Spock to experience a meld with him. Spock knelt before him and was
able to visualized the drama through the meld.
The information provided was:
Si'len had heard of this slave planet and from an Orion ship captain, learned that the slavers were Orion and that varied
species were kept captive there. Due to the Va Pak the galaxy wide call for Vulcans to be gathered was a known fact among
space travelers. Si'len's search became an important goal for him. He visited the colony as a Vulcan healer and asked the
Orion's to allow him to check on the their Vulcan inhabitants to check for any health concerns. After examining each one of
the males, he made this startling announcement to the Orions,
"The male Vulcans held here are dying, due to a chemical imbalance."
The Orion's, fearful of contamination of the other imprisoned males, rushed them off the planet.
Spock comments were,
"You lied. None of these males have a chemical imbalance."
Si'len's answer was,
"No, Osu, I gambled. For under stressful situations, every Vulcan male has the potential to come into his time—into Pon
Farr. I was aware of the Orion's greed and manipulative abilities, that they would never risk their thriving 'business' against
the loss of so few slave workers. Their mining operations should not be in any way threatened, so we left without a
struggled."
Spock next inquired,
"In what system was the planet of imprisonment located?"
The Loradian system, the planet was named Vitos, a class M planet."
"Do you have any information about the planet or place of this groups' origin and the nature of the illness that decimated
the adult population?"
Si'len's hands steepled beneath his chin, a well known Vulcan posture, and Spock thought, that this was a taught behavior,
either from observation or instruction. He thought about how his imitation of his father's hand positioning, that he often
mirrored, had led his mother to say, like father, like son..
"From what I can determine, from several mind melds with these males, the nature of the adult's illness was mental.
The adult population turned on one another causing mass slaughter. The children were never viewed as enemies and thus
survived. Apparently other species were also susceptible to whatever was the cause, whether it was external or internal.
Thus the Orion slavers had a free hand collecting these youthful slaves whose captivity would never be questioned."
Spock bowed his head in what was accepted as a sign of appreciation and said,
"Taluhk Hakausu, (Esteemed Healer), Si'len, I leave you to your research." That brief interlude with Lo'vaak's father helped
Spock to see what an extra ordinarily valuable asset he would prove to be in their continued research, reassignment and
care of all the survivors that would make their existence known to the Vulcans here on Terra.
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Upon leaving Si'len, Spock went to Sarek's office.
"Father, I will now conduct a preliminary session with this group. Would your schedule permit your joining me?"
Being a man who avoided unnecessary words, Sarek simply rose from his seat and gestured so his son could lead the way.
The males were lounging around in their assigned room—some playing chess, some reading. The only evidence that they
acknowledge their visitors were raised eyebrows. Spock started,
"Dif to heh smusma," (Live long and prosper) There is a need for us to gather information from you. Are all of you capable
of written communication?"
The unanimous answer was "Ha" (IYes)
Spock was grateful, for some reason the job of teaching Vulcans their mother tongue did not appeal to him. He was fully
aware that these males would have to learn Standard, for while Vulcan was the language of The Settlement, Standard was
the language of business.
Spock handed out PADDs and held it up for the group to observe how it was to be used.—he wrote his name pressed
a button to 'save' the entered information. There was a buzz of conversation. Sarek stood and gestured for quiet and
stated,
"Your entries should include all biographical information, information you remember about your parents, their original
home, jobs you have been trained to carry out, jobs, work that interest you. We will collect this information and attempt to
determine your latent talents and intrinsic abilities. Your information will be compared to information already collected from
survivors of Va Pak and we will be able to join your information with another male from The Survivors to form a
suitable family group."
Spock sent to his father his need to return to The Academy. Although it was summer recess, he had been working on
syllabuses for all the courses he would teach the next school year. Before departing he wished the group, peace and long
life.
While seated at his desk, it was through their bond he felt a jolt of pain experienced by Nyota.
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