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"My father finds you attractive," Sybok said to Amanda. He was reclining in the chair positioned opposite her desk during one of their student conferences.
"I beg your pardon?" Amanda asked taken aback.
"My father finds you attractive, quite agreeable."
"Oh. Well, I should hope so, we work together." Amanda smiled nervously.
"You know what I mean Amanda. He likes you as more than friends or colleagues. He likes you the way a man likes a woman. He is attracted to you romantically."
"What? Don't be silly." Amanda scoffed at her student.
"And you obviously like him, as more than friends," Sybok said confidently.
"Sybok, you're a good boy but-"
"Boy? I am older than you, young lady," he teased.
"Well, you may be older by Earth years but you are still a child comparatively by Vulcan standards."
"That may be so, however, what is it that your Terra writings proclaim? 'Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings, hast thou ordained strength'"* He quirked a brow at her.
"Sybok what is it that you want? I have work to do."
"I want you and my father to be happy."
"What? What are you talking about? I am perfectly happy and your father, well he is Vulcan." She pointed out.
"And? So he is Vulcan, is he not entitled to be happy?"
"You know very well that Vulcans are not happy, at best you are content."
"Is that so? I am rather happy when I see you and Father together."
"You're different," Amanda said
"How?"
"For one, you're still a child-"
"Ahem!" Sybok cut Amanda off with a disgruntled cough.
Amanda rolled her eyes. "You're a young man," she corrected. "And for another thing, you've been raised all over the galaxy. You don't subscribe to the strict philosophies laid out by Surak."
"I am still Vulcan and I know what I know. We Vulcans feel. I dare say our emotions run deeper than any other race I've ever encountered. But we suppress our stronger emotions. Vulcans dare not let emotion cloud judgment or overrule us. We fear the beast within and the danger it presents but make no mistake we feel," Sybok said passionately.
"Sarek is a man and you are a woman. A very attractive woman by my observation." Sybok leaned forward and raised his brow.
"Stop it, boy," she said swatting him away. "Ok, let's just say I believe you. You Vulcans feel deeply. Great. And let's just assume all you say is true, that Sarek finds me 'quite agreeable'. That's all well and good too but so what?"
"So what?" Sybok asked in confusion.
"Yeah, so what? Your father is the Vulcan ambassador to Earth. I'm a school teacher. Your family is descended from Surak, you're part of the political elite. Your grandmother is the leader of Vulcan and all her colonies."
"Yes, all you say is true. As you say, so what?"
"So it's not possible for anything but friendship between Sarek and me."
"Why not?"
"Sybok. I understand you... care for your father. But can you be logical for a change? I can't believe I'm saying this to a Vulcan. But think will you! We come from two different worlds, literally. We have nothing in common!"
"Surely you jest. You are both educators. You both seek to learn and understand new cultures and people. You both appreciate and have similar tastes in music and art and literature. And most importantly you like each other," Sybok protested.
"Who says? Look, when people spend a lot of time together they are bound to form a connection. Its called camaraderie."
Sybok shook his head. "I know humans have the tendency of lying but I never thought you would lie to me Amanda, or far worse, to yourself."
"Sybok, just drop it, please."
"No, I will not. Not when I see what you and my father could have together."
"Why are you doing this? Why does it matter to you?"
"Because I see the change in Father. He was almost intolerable before he met you. He worked incessantly. And when he was not obsessed with work he was obsessed with training me. He was, as you say 'on my ass' all the time to study, to meditate, to work at the embassy with him one day. And then you came along. And suddenly he would talk to me, not just command me. Suddenly our house was not a battleground but it was tolerable to live there again. You came along and he was different. Better. Alive."
Sybok sat back in his chair and his face softened to a degree Amanda had never seen before. "When my mother left," Sybok said after a long pause, "Father just seemed to... withdraw within himself. You don't know all there is to know about the Vulcan people. No outsider knows what it means to be a Vulcan male. Father would probably forsake me if he knew we were having this conversation. But for a Vulcan male, we cannot live without a wife or lover."
"Sybok what are you talking about?"
"Vulcan males literally cannot survive, we die without a mate," Sybok confessed. "Amanda, Vulcan males have a biological imperative that drives us to mate. There are creatures on your earth that are driven to mate, are there not? The salmon which are driven to return to their spawning grounds?"
"What do salmon have to do with Vulcan males?" Amanda demanded. She didn't understand how this ridiculous conversation had taken such a turn. Salmon?
"Nothing, just an example of a species that has strong biological drives. Vulcans have strong biological drives as well. We Vulcan males have a unique reproductive drive. We experience something similar to what Humans would call a reproductive heat."
"Heat? I'm no biologist but I thought only females experience mating heat?"
"Not precisely heat, perhaps more like a rut, but again it is unique to Vulcans. I am told it is a very disturbing experience." Sybok said as a shiver ran through his body. "Its a heat, or a rut, or spawning, whatever you may compare it to. A sexually mature adult Vulcan male will be driven to mate, and if he does not have a compatible mate he will go mad and die."
"Pssh," Amanda scoffed. "Human males have tried to convince women for millennia that they will die without sex, lack of sex hasn't killed a man yet."
"Vulcan males are not like human men. We can and do die if we do not breed. It is a biological fact. One we do not discuss with outworlders for this very reason. For who could believe that the very staid, logical Vulcan male loses his mind and dies an agonizing death for lack of sex?"
"I don't believe it!" She denied at first and as she stared at Sybok's serious face she changed her mind. "No," Amanda said somberly. "No, you would not lie to me. How is it possible that I have never heard of this? I've lived here for over a year. I've never suspected anything like what you describe is possible."
"We are a private race. It is taboo to discuss it even among our own kind. No Vulcan would discuss it freely with an offworlder. I tell you this only because I think it important for you to understand where my father stands. He must have a wife. It is inevitable. Without one he would die. So you can imagine the disruption in our lives when my mother decided to leave?"
"I cannot imagine. Sarek doesn't discuss his marriage."
"No, I imagine he does not. My mother is very beautiful. She comes from a very old and prominent family from the northern mountain region. Their marriage was arranged when they were children, far younger than even myself," Sybok grinned. "Anyway, Vulcan parents arrange marriages at very young ages to ensure that when the Time comes, when we males come of age and experience our uh...Pon Farr, we will have a willing bride waiting."
"Sybok you'll forgive me if I say it all sounds quite barbaric?"
"It is barbaric and primitive. I believe people should be allowed to choose their mates but the risk an unmated male poses... Parents deemed arranged marriage the logical solution. I think people should be allowed to pursue happiness such as it is on Vulcan. My parents did not 'like' one another. They had nothing in common except their prominent families. My mother was not content to be the wife of the ambassador to earth, she did not want to leave Vulcan and travel with my father on his diplomatic missions. It caused a rift between them. Perhaps if they had been friends, and had something more to their relationship except duty they could have compromised. But my father does not compromise. And so he took up his post on Earth. And shortly afterward, my mother took up a religious life. Father and I have been alone ever since."
"Sybok, I don't think you should speak any more about this. This is your father's story." Amanda said shaking her head to close the subject.
"It is my story too, and I tell you this because I like you. I like you with my father and I want to see the two of you together."
"I understand. All children want their parents to be happy. But Sybok it changes nothing. Sarek and I cannot be together. Your story convinces me more than ever that Sarek needs a Vulcan wife."
Sybok slapped his hand on her desk causing Amanda to jump in her seat.
"You don't understand!" Sybok said his voice agitated.
"No! You don't understand," She countered. "Maybe I do like Sarek in that way ok? But so what? You just said Sarek needs a wife? Well, guess what? I'm not looking for a husband. I'm not ready to get married. Marriages are built on more than just attraction, its a lifetime commitment, and as you say it requires sacrifices and compromises. And maybe Sarek and I have a few things in common? Again so what? Sarek is 3 times my age. Hell, his son is older than I am. Our lifestyles are different, our lifespans are different. Are humans and Vulcans even biologically compatible in that way?"
"There's one way to find out," Sybok said raising his brows.
"Sybok, be serious, will you? Be logical. Sarek and I do not suite one another."
"I disagree. You're the only logical choice. Otherwise, my grandparents will step in and find Father another unsuitable wife. One who won't be so accommodating as you are, one he didn't choose, and one who doesn't care about him. He'll go back to being the way he was after Mother left. Cold and distant. We were never really a family," Sybok said sadly. "We were just 3 people living separate lives. Mother had her religious studies, Father had his career as the science academy, and I had school. I've spent more time with Father since he met you than I have in years. I know your contract at the Science Academy is nearly over and I know you are considering returning to Earth. I ask you to reconsider that decision. Think about how you truly feel about Father. Think about the life you could have together. Despite his stubbornness, he is a good man. We may have our disagreements but I still care for him. I think you do too. So please give it some thought. I think that is all I can ask of you."
Sybok stood. "I think I have given you much to consider. I'll leave you to it." He bowed to Amanda and left her speechless at her desk.
Me, Marry Sarek? Amanda shook her head vigorously in denial. Why was she even thinking about it? There was nothing to consider. Sarek was a Vulcan and she was a human woman. What could he possibly see in her that he found attractive? Sure they hung out together but that was only because he was her mentor at the Academy. All the visiting faculty were assigned Vulcan mentors... And yes he had invited her to his home where they shared dinners and drinks and long nights of conversation... but that didn't mean anything...
No! Amanda, stop dreaming. She stood up and started pacing back and forth in her little office. Sybok has you tripping, girl. Sarek is off-limits. He is your boss. And he will be leaving soon, taking up an assignment god only knew where for the Vulcan government. You might not see him again for years or ever... She stopped pacing when her heart lurched in her chest. She didn't want to think about him leaving. And if what Sybok said was true he would be forced to marry someone soon. Even if they were to ever meet again in the future he would belong to another.
She went back to her desk and activated the communicator. Sarek answered immediately.
"Amanda, to what do I an owe the honor of your call?"
"Hi, Sarek. I was just thinking about you," She said nervously. God, she was behaving like a fool!
"Indeed?"
"Um yes. You know what? I'm sorry to disturb you, you're probably busy-"
"I am never too busy for you Amanda," he said earnestly and Amanda forgot what she was ever nervous about. She sighed in relief. Sarek always knew just what to say... "Sarek would you care to join me for dinner this evening at my apartment?"
He raised his brow in surprise. "I would be honored, Amanda. May I inquire what precipitated this request?"
"Well, I just thought it was about time I repaid you for all of the kindness you've shown me. I've been to your home for dinner several times and I have yet to invite you to mine. So how about you come over for a home-cooked meal tonight?"
"Yes, I accept."
"Great! I will see you at 8 pm, will that be acceptable?"
"That is quite acceptable. I look forward to seeing you then." Sarek gave the Vulcan salute and cut the connection.
Amanda slumped back in her chair and let out a pent up breath. What the hell had she just done and why had she done it?
"Sybok!" That little rat bastard...
She jumped up from her seat and rushed to the door so that she could catch up with him but she nearly tripped over his overgrown feet. He was standing right outside of her office door.
"Careful T'Sai," he said as he caught her elbow to steady her.
"Sybok what are you doing standing here?" She glared up at him.
"Waiting for you, T'Kehr."
"Obviously. Why?" She asked.
"I happened to overhear your conversation with Father-"
"Eavesdropped," Amanda cut in.
Sybok continued, "...And I thought I could offer some assistance."
"Assistance with what?"
"Assistance with your date with Father."
"I do not have a date with Sarek. I just invited him to dinner."
"At your apartment?"
"Yes, so?"
"So, by Terran standards when a woman invites a male acquaintance to her abode unchaperoned is that not a date?"
"It could also be just a friendly dinner."
"But we have already established that you and Father are more than just friends."
"We established no such thing. Now if you will excuse me, I have to go and... do some things."
"Like what?" he said following behind her like an excited puppy.
"Like none of your business." She was really frazzled now. What would she prepare? Vulcan cuisine or Human? Why would Sarek want Vulcan food prepared by a human? Wouldn't it be better to prepare some dishes she was more familiar with, something she couldn't ruin? Human food then. She rushed off in the direction of the Human enclave where she could shop.
"Headed off for the Terran sector?" he asked as he tagged along, allowing his long legs to match her shorter stride.
"If you insist on following me, yes. I need to shop."
"I will assist you. I need to tell you some things about Vulcan males before your date."
"Sybok, I don't need you telling me anything more about Vulcan males."
"Are you certain? Wouldn't you like to know what foods Father likes?"
Amanda stopped and looked up at Sybok. He was tall and dark like most Vulcans, but Sybok had an open friendly face unlike most of the students she taught. He almost looked smug standing there looking down at her. He had broad shoulders and thick muscles like his father. He looked like a full-grown man even though he was still only a young adult and one of her students.
Sometimes he seemed wise beyond his years. Something Amanda attributed to his living conditions. He was raised as a diplomat's son who had traveled the galaxy far and wide before coming home to study for his entrance exams into the VSA. He knew more about the galaxy and its inhabitants than she likely would ever know. But for all that, he was still just a kid according to Vulcan standards. A kid and officially one of her students. She should not be having discussions about dating with her student.
"Look Sybok I appreciate that you would like to assist me, however, I think this is an inappropriate conversation. You are still a student. And though Vulcan does not have strict rules about fraternizing between students and faculty I think for my own sanity I need you to back off."
"Back off?" he asked with a slight frown. And that was another thing, he had very poor control of his emotions. He was emoting in public and that would draw unwanted attention. She grabbed his sleeve and pulled him along like the misbehaving child that he was.
"Sybok, you must learn better control. I know you've been raised off-world and didn't have to be so restrained. But you're home now. You are being far too evocative."
Now Sybok frowned ever so slightly. "T'Kehr, I only wanted to render you assistance in payment for all the assistance you have rendered me and my family. May I accompany you on your shopping excursion in case you require my aid?"
Amanda side-eyed Sybok and sighed. He was never more suspicious as when he was being a polite 'Vulcan'. He was up to something. What she had no idea.
"All right, if you insist on being a nuisance you can at least be useful. You can carry my bags."
"Excellent!" he said a little too enthusiastically causing several passersby to look at him askance.
He subdued himself once more and resumed a more sedate walk towards the shops.
Amanda shook her head. Sarek had his hands full with this boy.
/*-/*-/
Sarek vacated his private rooms dressed for his dinner with Amanda. Sybok was seated at their communal dining table eating a late meal. He looked up when he heard Sarek enter the room and nearly choked on his food.
"Father, where are you going dressed like that?" Sybok asked as he gazed at the splendor that was Sarek in formal Vulcan robes.
"What do you mean dressed like this?" Sarek looked down at himself. He had meticulously chosen this suit specifically for this evening's meeting.
"I mean you look... You look like you are going to an interview with the council. Who are you trying to impress?"
"I am not trying to impress anyone. I have been invited to Miss Grayson's house for dinner this evening and I decided it would be respectful to dress formally for the occasion."
"Ah, and so you decided to wear your best suit of robes?"
"This is not my best suit of robes," Sarek stated.
"It is, Father. I've seen you in nothing finer. I must insist that you go and change at once. And make haste, I don't want you late for your date."
"Date? I said nothing about a date. Amanda has merely invited me to dine at her home to thank me."
"Thank you for what?"
"For my hospitality in having her to our home for dinner numerous times."
"OUR home," Sybok said. "It was I who invited her here for dinner that first time."
"And?"
"And yet she is thanking only you?"
"I am your father and the head of the household. I am sure she is aware of the custom of thanking the head of the family."
"I am sure she is aware of no such antiquated custom. She invited you, an unattached male to diner at her apartment. Unchaperoned. On Earth that is considered a date."
"Indeed? A date?" Sarek asked in disbelief.
"Yes Father, and you cannot wear that to your date."
"What is wrong with my attire? And this is not a date."
"What is wrong is that it has far too many layers of clothing. You need to wear something more comfortable and with easier access." Sybok said and he circled his father while cataloging all of the outfits flaws.
"Easier access to what?"
Sybok strained to keep from rolling his eyes in an unVulcan like manner. "Easy access to your body, for a sexual liaison."
Sarek nearly choked on his own tongue. "I beg your pardon, my son? What are you speaking about? Who said anything about... a sexual liaison?"
"I did. That is what people do on a date Father, well at the end of the date. Everyone knows that if a woman invites you to her apartment for dinner that it is a date. And a sexual liaison is implied at the end of the date, or at the very least foreplay. And the last thing you want a woman to do is to have to peel you layer by layer like an artichoke. Now I suggest you go and change into your green robes, the dark ones with the tapered cuffs."
"That suit is ill-fitting," Sarek said.
"That suit is snug fitting and will show off your assets to good effect."
"My son, you are mistaken. This is nonsense. I am going to a simple meal, not some... some... Date!"
"It is a date, Father. I know what I'm talking about."
"You know nothing of the sort."
"I do know. I have lived on Terra and I have been a date before with a human female. And I've had sex before too, so I know that this outfit will never do."
"Sybok, what are you saying? You have not had sex before." Sarek insisted. He could not believe what he had just leaned. He had no idea that Sybok had been let loose on Earth without proper supervision. He had many failings as a father but he had no idea it went so far as to jeopardize his child's health and safety.
"How would you know that Father? You were not there." Sybok said with no accusation in his voice, but Sarek felt the old guilt of being away or occupied with work when his child had needed his guidance most.
"But you are not yet of age. You have not experienced the Time," Sarek said.
"You do know we can have sex outside of the Time don't you father?" Sybok asked his father with an indulgent smirk.
"I do know it. The question is how do you know it?"
"I am not a child Father. I have grown up in case you have not noticed. I have seen and experienced as much of this world and the federation as you have."
Sarek sighed. Sybok was an unusual boy and it was Sarek's own fault. He had forced the boy to grow up too fast, taken him out of school and traveled with the boy to his diplomatic assignments. At the time he had believed it better for his son to be with him rather than be abandoned by both mother and father but he had deprived Sybok of a normal Vulcan childhood. Sarek despaired that Sybok would ever fit into Vulcan society as he was now. If he had the chance to do it all again he would make different choices for his son. But he could only move forward. He would have to be less indulgent with Sybok and enforce the teachings of Surak more strictly. And he should begin by being a good example.
Sarek took on a resigned expression. "Sybok perhaps you are correct. I shall call Amanda and cancel our meeting-"
"No Father!" Sybok insisted, taking Sarek by the arm and stopping him. This was so frustrating. First, he had to convince Amanda to ask his father out and now his father was trying to cancel? Not on his watch! These two were going to be the cause of his premature aging, Sybok thought.
"Father you cannot do that. You cannot cancel a date once you have committed to it. It would be... would be illogical! Women take these things very seriously. I am sure Amanda has already cooked and prepared her home for you. You would be standing her up, committing a severe social faux pas."
"But I do not wish to give her the wrong impression," Sare said. Or you my son, he thought.
"And what is the wrong impression? You agreed to the date, didn't you want to go just ten minutes ago?"
"Yes, but that was before I knew it was a 'date'."
"Father. I do not understand why you hesitate. You were looking forward to this dinner with Amanda. Whether you call it a date or not is irrelevant."
"I was looking forward to a simple dinner, not a date with 'a sexual liaison' implied"...
"Why? Don't you want to have sex with Amanda?"
"Sybok! That is none of your concern. I have been remiss in enforcing the teachings of Surak with you."
Sybok rolled his eyes in human fashion. "Father, please be logical. You are a mature adult male and T'sai Amanda is an attractive adult female. When consenting adults are attracted to one another a liaison is the logical next step. It was bound to happen sooner or later. And what you two do in private is your own business. Now do not stand the lady up. Please go and change quickly into the green suit and make me proud as your son." Sybok patted his father's shoulder and squeezed it gently.
"Sybok?"
"Yes, Father?"
"I do not require your pride, only your logic."
"Yes, Father," Sybok agreed, bowing his head obediently.
"And Sybok?"
"Yes, Father?" Sybok responded as an obedient son should.
"I also request that we will never speak of sexual liaisons again."
Sybok's eyes brightened and he grinned slightly, "Yes, Father."
Sarek sighed. "Sybok, control, my son." He placed his hand atop Sybok's, "You must learn control."
Sybok tried but he could not contain his grin. "Yes, Father."
Sarek looked at his son a long moment before he hastened to his rooms to change his robes.
/*-/*-/
T'Kehr = Teacher
T'Sai = Lady
*"Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings..." Psalm 8:2