Chapter 11: Arguments

Thorek noticed that his wife seemed distracted and agitated on their way back. She had borrowed books on Romulan poetry and a massive tome chronicling the Romulan exodus. The case in which she was carrying them was next to her on the seat, and she kept a protective hand on its lid.

She noticed his glances at her and she whispered to him: "I'll tell you once we're home."

"All right," he whispered back.

After they arrived, she addressed the matter at once.

"I met a Human woman at the library. At least, that's what she says. You never know with cosmetic surgery and what lengths spies might go to. Her name is Christine, and she is married to a Romulan. His name is Vekal tr'Jo'rek. She has invited me to visit them. I asked her if you could also come, and she's fine with it. I hope it's okay with you. I would have preferred asking you beforehand, actually. I want to be careful about whom to trust. I had thoughts like, what if they're Tal Shiar spies or something…"

"I'll come with you. You acted very wisely. And…" He hesitated, gazing at her; then he took both her hands in his. "Thank you for trusting me. I honour your trust with mine."

She smiled. "Now it is my turn to thank you." Then, softly: "The tingling I'm feeling all over my hands now – is it from your touch?"

"Yes. Vulcan roots run stronger in some Romulan families than others. And since I had a Vulcan great-grandmother, touch sensitivity runs all the stronger in my family."

"It feels special. Is it two-way?"

"Yes, I feel the sensation, too."

"Amazing. That's quite a gift." He gently let go of her hands.

"A matter of genetics, actually. Speaking of which: do eyes like yours run in your family?"

"No, I'm the only one. I was born with it."

"It must be rare."

"Yes. It is called heterochromia iridium on Earth. Are Romulans born with it, too?"

"Not to my knowledge. You are the first person I have seen with such eyes. If I may say so, you are the bearer of a very attractive accident of genetics."

"Thank you," she said, her cheeks turning rosy. And he, as was the custom, bowed his head in acknowledgement.

It was a high compliment coming from a Romulan. She had been horrified when Rhian had told her that foetuses and babies with even "mild" genetic defects were "disposed of". However, Rhian had also said that the practice had left several expectant parents heartbroken, and a handful of parents had decided to keep their baby and raise them with great love despite relatives cutting contact and ostracization.

She wondered if her heterochromia would have made her a viable candidate for their type of "euthanasia". Romulans certainly took notice of her eyes, though with more curiosity verging on admiration rather than with suspicion or disgust. The Tal Shiar had been the one exception, of course, and she had been very angry when they had scanned her eyes.

She tore her thoughts away from the Tal Shiar and put her hand inside her pocket.

"Christine also gave me this."

She pulled out the slip of paper. "I haven't read it as yet." Together, they bent their heads over it.

"It contains lines of code," Asha remarked.

"Yes, I recognise this type of code. It is for highly encrypted communication channels. Asha, I have to ask you to not say a word about this to even Kihika."

She nodded. "I know. Christine said that she did not reveal anything about us to her own assistant either."

"If you will research the database on Vekal tr'Jo'rek, I will examine the code in the meantime."

They got down to work, sitting next to each other at the table. Finally, Asha looked up.

"Vekal's whole family was executed by the Tal Shiar for political dissent," she said, struck by the similarity to her husband's own past.

"Fvadt," Thorek swore softly in Rihan. Damn.

"Fvadt indeed," Asha muttered. "And there's only the usual data on Christine. Picture, date of birth and all that. But I bet she was kidnapped like I was." And softly: "And I bet her husband has a kind heart like yours."

Thorek looked at her sceptically. "Romulans are not known for their kindness, but I do try to listen to my conscience, my wife."

"Thank you for doing so."


Later in the evening, Thorek discovered Asha perusing a PADD with raised eyebrows.

"What are you reading?" he inquired, sitting down opposite her.

"The section on Romulan marriage and mating customs," she said. "The descriptions are very detailed."

"Ah, I see. We are a passionate people, including in the matrimonial bed. We have turned the act of mating into an art. You will find ample resources in the library."

"Well, that is similar to Humans and many other peoples. The topic seems to be a universal obsession."

"That is hardly surprising, considering its vastness and the sensations it elicits. I myself consider the act of mating a highly enjoyable addition to my life."

It was a strange feeling sitting next to her husband talking to him about sex, but not indulging in it with him. She tried to imagine what it would be like and found it too difficult to wrap her mind around the idea. Only R'ëal and the other past loves of his life knew.

"What about having sex with your own gender?" she asked.

"In contrast to Humans, Romulan society has always considered sex between people of the same gender perfectly natural."

"I know Human history is blotted with shameful atrocities. At the same time, at least in matters of sexuality, we have come a long way. But is your society flawless? The Tal Shiar? The Remans…?"

"That is true. No society is perfect." That was quite a huge thing for a Romulan to admit.

"It looks like I'll have to visit the library again to read up on your approach to sexuality."

"It might benefit you if you found someone suitable to mate with besides consulting books."

She looked at him, startled. "What do you mean?"

"It is frowned upon to do so outside marriage, but seeing that this is an exceptional situation and I myself until recently had an extramarital connection..."

"I thank you for being so, uhm, accommodating. But I can't do that."

"Time will tell."

"Chances are small, seeing that my Human origin might act as a repellant."

"It might still be worth considering my suggestion."

"I can't! It's just not me!" she said passionately.

"As I mentioned, time will tell."

"No."

"You are a strange Human. You refuse to seek a mate outside our marriage despite my encouraging it – something most Romulan spouses would not tolerate."

"Thorek, wouldn't this contradict your views on loyalty and fidelity? Wouldn't your opinion of me as a Human sink if I walked away with someone else? And what about my views on my own integrity? If you think this is a special favour you're doing for me, please think again."

His eyebrows drew together. "This is an unusual situation, as I just mentioned before."

"You are not just encouraging me to seek a mate so you can seek one, too, are you?"

His face flushed green. "That is an offensive idea, my wife!"

"Why should it be? Thorek, do you really want to go without mating with someone you truly desire for what might be a long time? You did say you enjoyed mating?"

He sighed. "Can't the same be said of you? You ask me questions I find myself unable to answer."

"There's another thing, Thorek. Christine did tell me that she and her husband have got a happy marriage."

"I see what you are implying. I have no wish to mate with a Human just because Christine may do so with her husband," he said bluntly.

"I am aware of that, Thorek. You do not wish to mate with a Human because they're Human, yes?"

"Correct. I have no interest in intimate interspecies relations. Looking at you, a Human female might be…puny…during certain activities," he stated impassively, forgetting that his former lover R'ëal had used precisely that word to describe Asha and also forgetting that he had protested about it.

"Wow. Just…wow. You're a lot more xenophobic than I thought," she said coldly. "I am amazed that General Parem and you are not bosom friends, then."

Thorek went even greener with anger. "Your statement is rude and crass!"

"So are your views on, ah, intimate interspecies relations. And here I was, thinking that you were working on your bias towards my Humanity as I was working on mine towards your people. I believed better of you. I see that I was completely and totally mistaken." She stood up, her eyes flashing. "You care just as much about my missing brow ridges as everyone else. You disgust me, and…and I hope I die soon over here."

She strode away from him, pulled on her boots and went outside, slamming the door on her way out so hard that a glass ornament on the wall fell down on the floor and broke. Thorek cursed softly. He opened his mouth to call one of the household staff to clean up the mess. Instead, he fetched the necessary tools, got down on his knees and cleaned it up himself.

Feeling reckless with adrenaline after her dramatic exit, Asha took the flitter to the woods which she had always wanted to visit. Back on Earth, she had always cooled off after some crisis or the other by walking along the banks of the river and watching nature. It was still light, and she walked along a gravel path, admiring the extraordinarily beautiful landscape unfold around her. The vegetation on Romulus was lush and tropical, and there were many birds and insects she had never seen before. High above in the sky, she could see birds of prey circling majestically. She pulled up a map of the area on her PADD. It would not do to get lost in a place she had never been before – all the more so because she was alone and a Human. As she walked along slowly, she noted that the way was well marked, and she was reassured to discover that she could translate the Romulan notices and signboards into English quite well. She had to give Rhian t'Merek credit for being a thorough teacher.

Finally, she sat down on a wooden bench and wondered how "spinsterhood" was regarded in Romulan society. Her own aunt Preity had managed to successfully navigate life without a significant other or children, ignored silly comments from other people and had lived a full and happy life. It sounded like it was going to be this way for her – and who said it had to be bad? Sooner or later, Thorek would pursue another lover and she…well…Maybe he would strangle her in her sleep after all. She thought of her family and friends.

Cousin Maya and her Vulcan husband Navok were probably honeymooning. And André was bound to be cycling around the place on his turquoise bicycle. And her parents…Asha began to cry, and once she had started, she seemed unable to stop. Finally, when she did stop, she concluded that she most certainly didn't want to die soon anywhere. She wiped her face and looked up in alarm. It was late and getting very dark. She checked her PADD for the time. Almost three hours since she had left! She had even missed supper. With a start, she got up and fairly ran back to the flitter park. Cursing and with trembling hands, she sent the flitter hurtling homewards like a bullet, thought she did stop at the red lights.

Thorek opened the door for her. He noticed that she had been crying. "I'm sorry, I completely forgot…I was…" she trailed away.

"This is your home. You can come and go whenever you wish, though a message is always appreciated. However, given the circumstances…" He took a deep breath. This was going to be very hard to say. He took her hands in his – the second time he was doing so. "I owe you an apology for our…dispute this evening. You are right that I should rethink my views on your species. It would mean a lot to me if you continued to believe better of me."

"Apology accepted."

"Still, think about what I said concerning a mate. Your heart might choose differently than your mind one day. Don't let the Tal Shiar have the final word in matters of the heart, Asha."

"As you said, time will tell. We'll cross that bridge when we get there, as people say on Earth," she replied neutrally. There was a small pause, during which they looked at each other.

"I have kept supper for you," he said.

"Thank you."

He nodded, let go of her hands and left, realising she needed her space and wished to eat her supper alone. He stopped and turned around, though.

"I hope you have no intentions of dying soon over here."

"I won't give you the satisfaction of that." She smiled as she said so, and he realised she was joking.

"Good," he said.


The next morning, while Kihika was doing her hair, Asha asked:

"How are permanently unmarried or unbonded Romulans viewed in your society, Kihika?"

Kihika looked surprised. "Not any differently from bonded ones, my Lady. Why are you asking?"

Asha shifted in her chair. Kihika discreetly continued to brush Asha's thick black locks.

"Well... So many species take it for granted that everyone partners up, even if procreation is not a priority. Some people live with someone and are happy, but others are still alone and unhappy in their relationship. Then there are always those who live alone. Always. And they rarely or never mate. And they're happy. Society's opinions on individuals living alone without mating differ wildly. It is expected that mating is a must. I was wondering how that is perceived in your society."

"We do have priestesses and priests who never take a mate or spouse. For married spouses, however, this would not be a viable path, unless they broke the connection. Once married, divorce is a very uncommon practice. It is why Romulans take several mates before marriage to test their suitability as prospective spouses."

"Ah, I see. Some Humans have a similar practice, though divorce is very common. It's called serial monogamy." She snorted slightly as she considered such labels absurd.

"It would take enormous discipline for most Romulans to go through life without a mate, my Lady. We are a very passionate people and while we adhere to discipline, we do indulge our sexual curiosity quite thoroughly. However, mating is certainly not a must among our people, and we hold no prejudice against those who do not mate. Although we talk very openly about sexuality in our society, the discussion of actual mating practices is reserved between bonded Romulans."

"Whereas your cousins, the Vulcans, are forced to mate every few years?"

"Indeed, my Lady, though they can mate whenever they wish. But they are forced to undergo the pon farr every seven years and are betrothed already as children, which we Romulans have never done and will never do. Romulans do not experience blood fever, for we do not suppress our emotions. If you anger us, we will react in anger. If you make us happy, we will react thus. Even our priests and priestesses possess an art of channelling sexual power in ways that remain a secret to us."

"Thank you for enlightening me, Kihika. I am learning so much from you."

"It's a pleasure, my Lady," she said, beaming.