Chapter Two
Spock was delighted to hear Nyota's news. He invited M'Benga and Kamu to their home for dinner. M'Benga was relieved that Nyota was finally pregnant, although he was concerned about the fall earlier in the day.
"How do you feel, Nyota?"he asked.
"I am okay, just scared. What if they come after us?" she whispered.
"It is the guards who should be scared. You are carrying the grandchild of the governor." M'Benga said with a smile.
Nyota looked down at her hands.
"You are not pleased?" he asked.
"I am, but I have heard stories of what happens to the children of humans. Males are used as to feed Vulcan cattle and girls…," she couldn't finish her sentence.
M'Benga nodded. Nyota was right. The possibilities were grim, but he had hope.
"It will be okay." He patted her hands. "I must speak to Spock."
M'Benga got up and went out to the garden. Kamu and Spock stood close to one another. Spock looked down at Kamu's hand which was pressed against his thigh. Upon hearing M'Benga, Spock backed away.
"I have asked Nyota to come see me tomorrow. I will check the fetus," M'Benga said.
"Nyota is pregnant?" Kamu asked.
Kamu looked at Spock. Kamu had performed fellare' many times for Spock, but Spock would not go any further. Kamu knew Spock promised to have a child for his clan. It was also the deal that Spock made to keep Nyota alive, but still, Kamu's heart ached, knowing he could never have the person he loved.
"Will you be able to determine the sex?" Kamu asked.
"No, it is too soon. Human fetuses develop genders at four months," he said.
"If the child is Vulcan, it will be apparent immediately," Spock said.
M'Benga was silent. There was little chance that a child born of a human and hybrid would be Vulcan. Nyota was right to be afraid.
"Would you like me to check?" M'Benga asked.
"You should wait.," Kamu said. "If the child is human, Nyota will worry about it throughout the pregnancy."
M'Benga cracked a small smile, "You are a good brother. She is lucky to have you."
Spock nodded. He could have found a new mate on T'Vulk'ain and kept Kamu as his lover, but what Spock had with Kamu was not enough. Spock had bonded with Nyota. That day was the first time he felt her reach for him. He felt complete.
"I am glad you asked us to come over," M'Benga said. "I have made a recent discovery."
Spock walked over to the table and poured three glasses of port. He put the tray on the table and grabbed a glass. He sipped the port and said, "What have you found?"
"I took samples from Volaris," M'Benga whispered and looked around. "In all the samples, I may have found aushfa."
Spock put the glass down.
"Did you bring your medical bag?" Spock asked.
"I did. I thought you might want to provide a sample." M'Benga said.
"I will, but you may not find aushfa." Spock said. "I am a vegetarian."
"You believe the parasite is related to a carnivorous diet?"
Spock stood up and clasped his hands behind his back.
My ancestors were divided. Those V'Tosh who embraced logic were pacifists. They did not eat meat. Surak, my ancestor led these Vulcans to form the Remus Confederacy. Those who remained on T'Vulk'ain developed large aushfa-kel where livestock were raised.
"They raised worms?" Kamu asked.
"Oddly enough, the words mean two different things. Aushfa means parasite. Aushfa-kel is a farm where livestock are raised." Spock said.
"The sehl'at?" M'Benga asked.
"Yes, the V'Tosh first kept them as pets. After the society split, they were used for food." Spock said.
M'Benga was silent. He put the glass down.
"You may say what is on your mind. My father told me you served on T'Vulak'ain." Spock said.
M'Benga sighed. Then he spoke, "When I was a med student, I was captured along with other human men to work in the mines in the T'Vulk'ain region of Xir'tan. It was seismically unstable which is why humans were sent to work there. The quakes facilitated the mining of valuable minerals, There was a volcanic eruption that caused our shuttle to crash. I was in the cargo area when the vessel crashed. I saved the life of the Prefect who was seated up front," M'Benga said.
"He sent you back to medical school?" Kamu said.
"No, I was forced to serve as a medic in Xirtan. I received a small stipend, which I used to bribe a Tellerite shuttle pilot. He got me off the planet. It took nearly a year to get back to Earth because the pilot tried to sell me on Tellar." M'Benga said.
Kamu palmed his face and shook his head.
"What happened to him?" Kamu asked.
"I killed him,"M'Benga said.
M'Benga stood up and poured another port and drank it down.
Both Spock and Kamu stared at M'Benga.
"How did you get home?" Kamu said.
M'Benga held up his hand. "That is a story for another day. We must discuss the sehl'at."
"Do you think the sehl'at carry the infectious agent?" Spock asked.
"Yes, the infectious agent acts much like a prion, which damages brain tissue. It doesn't help that unhealthy sehl'at are used as fodder for healthy sehl'ats."
"Is it your premise that the infectious agent caused the V'Tosh ka'tur to behave erratically?" Spock asked.
"I will have to get a sample of sehl'at to make that determination. I will also need to scan your blood." M'Benga said.
Spock pulled off his tunic. M'Benga made note of the look on Kamu's face when Spock did so. Kamu was definitely a threat to Spock and Nyota's relationship.
M'Benga pulled out his tricorder and scanned Spock. Then he took several samples from Spock's blood.
Spock went inside and returned with Nyota. She was dressed in a short halter dress that was very appealing.
M'Benga took her blood as well. Spock pulled on his tunic as M'benga put the samples in the bag.
"Shall we eat?" Nyota asked.
She placed her hand on her belly and looked at Spock. He held out the ozh-esta, and she took his hand.
"My Lord," she said. Her voice took on a sultry quality.
M'Benga chuckled. Nyota was bringing her A-game. That said, it was her pregnancy that was keeping them all safe. M'Benga was not going to let Kamu ruin it out of jealousy.
After dinner, M'Benga stepped aside and made a call to Janice. Then he grabbed his bag. Nyota was inside cleaning. Kamu was chatting with Spock again.
"You have training tomorrow. I better drop you off." M'Benga said.
Kamu nodded and touched Spock's arm.
M'Benga got back into the vehicle and drove a few blocks and stopped.
"Wait, where are we?" he asked.
"This is my place. I have some business to tend to," M'Benga said.
Kamu got out, and they went inside. Janice was waiting with cocktails. M'Benga nodded. He had performed surgery on her a few times, and she was looking much better. Her waist was snatched, and her breasts were nearly as full as Nyota's.
After two drinks, Kamu relaxed a bit. That is when M'Benga led him to the back room.