Chapter 7
Nyota Uhura was sitting in a cramped cell with other females from the African continent. For nearly two hundred years, the region went untouched as far as human trafficking was concerned. Nyota thought that was ironic considering the history of the African slave trade on Earth. It lasted from the tenth century to World War III.
Nyota was devastated. She had worked so hard to get her degree. She had been accepted into graduate school and planned to start in the fall. Her brother Kamu had helped with the cost of her undergraduate degree, but the private graduate school wanted two thousand credits to hold her space. Her father was reluctant to ask Kamu. So he took a small loan against the property. It had not even been two months from the origination date when the loan was called. The tragic thing is Nyota had a job lined up for the summer. She could have waited another year to enroll and paid the tuition herself.
Alhamasi had one choice, allow his daughter to be enslaved or suffer the loss of the land that had been in her family for five hundred years. Nyota did not give him a chance to decide. It was her education. She had to pay the price. Her father and cousins were armed when the Vulcans arrived. She walked out of the house and was taken before shots were fired.
Nyota was shaken from her revelry by the sounds of guards coming to her cell. They rushed in and pulled her out before she could say a word.
"Be careful, the governor wants her." Said a guard. He leered at Nyota. You are quite fortunate, he will bestow many gifts upon you…" he said, "and then he will break your back!"
Nyota was sitting in a luxury suite on express transport. She had a car that was reserved for dignitaries. Nyota was clueless as to her fate. When she was first captured, she was put in the lowest cell. Then she was taken to a salon and dressed in a lowly Vulcan gown. Now she was treated like royalty. It made no matter to Nyota who she was kept by. She would not be a concubine for anyone.
Nyota was taken to the Vulcan Embassy. Nyota was in awe when she got out of the vehicle. There were many embassies on the street, but none as extravagant as the one that stood before her.
"My lady," A Vulcan eunuch held out his arm. Nyota looked around and took it. He helped her up the stairs and took her inside.
"The guvik-kafeh has arrived. Please inform the Sartok Sarek," the eunuch said with a smile at Nyota. (Concubine)
Nyota pulled her hand away from his arm, "I am no concubine." She exclaimed.
The guard and the eunuch looked at each other in surprise. A tall Vulcan exited the elevator. He walked over to Nyota. "I am Fei t'suyu for Sartok Sarek. Please follow me." Nyota glared at the eunuch and followed the Fei t'suyu. They rose thirty stories in the air and the lift stopped. The door opened and Fei t'suyu stepped forward.
"Wait," he said.
Nyota clutched the handkerchief in her pocket. It was the only thing she was allowed to keep from her purse.
A tall striking V'tosh entered the room. He looked her up and down. She was quite comely. He realized why Sudoc was requesting females from Africa.
"Ms. Uhura, please join us," Sarek said. He gestured and she walked forward.
"Spock, I present your wife, Ms. Uhura," Sarek said.
Spock stepped forward and pulled her into his arms. Nyota stiffened. He leaned forward and said, "I will take you to Kamu." Then he kissed her cheek. Nyota relaxed a little.
"It is so good to meet you in person," she said. "Kamu has said so much about you."
Nyota played along.
"Kamu?" Sarek said.
"Kamu has worked for me for three years," Spock said.
"Oh, the cook," Sarek said. "I am aware.
"Do you cook as well?" Sarek asked Nyota.
"No …uh..sir, I was studying communications."
Fei t'suyu whispered in Sarek's ear.
" Saralas Vulkhansu?" Sarek asked. (Do you speak Vulkhansu)
"Ha, S'haile," Nyota curtsied.
Sarek nodded. Spock, I am sure you desire some time with your ko-kugalsu," Sarek said.
"Yes, we will see to Kamu and then we will return for the evening meal," Spock said.
"Very well," Sarek said.
Spock held out the ozh'esta. Nyota looked at his fingers. Then she placed her hand again his. They entered the elevator. Nyota opened her mouth the speak and Spock kissed her. He leaned in and said, "there will be time to speak later."
Nyota realized that there was surveillance everywhere. There was a long black hovercar waiting for Spock and Nyota. It took them to the hospital. There was a vendor outside the facility selling frozen ice. Spock stooped and ordered two. As they walked, he spoke softly.
"Yesterday, Kamu informed me that you had been enslaved. I spoke with my father and learned that you were to be transported to Clan Sudoc. I told my father that you were mine. He agreed to release you because I said you were my fiancé."
"Spock, I appreciate all you have done for Kamu, but I don't know you, I cannot marry you," Nyota said.
SPock understood, but Nyota needed to understand the gravity of the situation.
"There is more. Kamu was gravely injured, but I intervened and brought him here." Spock said.
"What happened?" Nyota asked.
"Kamu attacked the embassy to save you while I pleaded on your behalf," Spock said.
He looked down into her face. She was lovely and much like her brother. He would give her a chance.
"Nyota, without this marriage, you will be sent to "T'Vulk'ain. Your father will lose his property because you were not on the Sudoc transport ship to T'Vulk'ain. Your brother will be put to death." Spock said. "I have done all I can to save you and your family."
"Why? Why are you putting your life on the line?" Nyota asked.
"Kamu is like a brother to me, more so than my own brother, Sybok," Spock said.
He finished the ice treat and threw the container in the trash.
"There is surveillance everywhere. Do not use any electronics to communicate with your family. My father will let them know you are safe." Spock said.
Spock held out his hand. Nyota took it again and both Vulcans and humans stared at the couple. When they entered the room, Kamu was laying on a gurney. His upper body was partially inside a large machine.
"Kamu's arm was torn away. The regeneration of his shoulder will be complete in two days." Spock said.
Nyota walked over and touched her brother's face.
"Kamu, I am here, brother." She said softly.
"Nyota, you are here." He said. He looked at Spock.
"You should have waited. The situation is dire." Spock said.
"I am sorry," Kamu began to cry.
"I am here now and I will do what I have to do to fix this situation," she said as she looked up at Spock.
"What about graduate school?" Kamu asked.
Nyota shook her head. "As long as you are safe, it doesn't matter. I just want you to be safe."
"I should have waited," Kamu said as he dozed off to sleep. "I ruined everything
"Do you wish to stay longer?" Spock asked.
"No, can we just go home, wherever that is?" Nyota asked.
"Yes, I share a home with Kamu, but my father will expect us to stay at the embassy."
"For how long?" she asked.
Spock did not answer.
Nyota shook her head. "I will go along with this, but we need privacy. Those dudes at the embassy give me the creeps," she said.
"We will discuss it during the meal. Come." He said.
Nyota walked alongside Spock until he saw V'Tosh guards. He stuck out his fingers and she placed hers against them.
Nyota was surprised at the size of the suite she was given at the embassy.
"Is this for both of us?" she asked.
"It is for you alone. I have the adjoining room until..." Spock said
Nyota looked around her. It was a lovely room. Spock was kind, but he was a stranger. Instead of being a concubine to a warlord, she would be the wife of a stranger. Nyota sighed, "My father is an idiot." she sighed.