Chapter Five

That Didn't Take Long

Mutara Sector, Genesis Planet

Star Date 2260.317

Spock1 sat back in his chair as a strong sense of accomplishment mingled with an unexpected fear, causing a tightening in his chest that he knew was anxiety from ringing a bell that cannot be unrung. He had chosen his father's encryption code because no one else would be likely to know it, understand its nuance, or associate it with them both.

But far beyond that was the fact that Sarek had recognized it at all. Spock had selected the coding sequence because after exhaustive searching, it had not appeared once outside of his childhood home on Vulcan.

As a child, Spock1 had what his mother called 'a precocious need to investigate anything with restricted status', and when she'd caught him hacking into her computer knowing full well it was an unacceptable activity, Sarek had seen to his education and correction rigorously, and that education began with his father leaving him a message with instructions he must follow in order to regain respect and enjoy the privilege of membership in a clan traced back 22 generations to Surak himself. He reflected on the morning he encountered the full prowess of his father's mind, and allowed himself to enjoy the memory of his foolhardy attempt at hacking…

…Spock1 did not appreciate being kept out of family business. He had completed his Khas'wan trial successfully, and at seven years of age was now considered an adult, having been betrothed to T'Pring only days earlier. He reasoned that now an adult, he was worthy of the respect that surely accompanied adulthood.

There was more: the security of his mother's computer was commercial in nature, and while it granted her privacy from invasive eyes that sought anything remotely newsworthy, he enjoyed the challenge of cracking the code, as it were. It was easy, and almost not fun – almost.

During his escapades the day before, he came upon a picture his mother had taken and stored in her computer from the time before she and Sarek were bonded. Spock1 saw his father, very young, looking directly at the camera. His mother had taken the picture while they were in the Galapagos Archipelago only weeks before they had moved to Vulcan to establish their home together. The title of the photo was "Honeymoon". He wondered what a honeymoon was and was confused when no discussions of lunar cycles explained the term in a satisfactory manner.

He scrutinized the image trying to understand exactly why they were on an island chain with animals that were not afraid of them, and why there were no other people. It did not make sense. What really surprised him was seeing his father's distinct left-handed script at the base of the picture:

Sanekau wuh'ashiv hasu-ashaya se nakarat, hi navau goh kov nekhaya neskalar. Devel-tor du, Valdena t'nash-veh.

(Love is an endeavor at permeating another being, but only successful with mutual surrender. I choose Thee, My Joy.)

After waiting for his father to indulge in outdoor meditation when he was on the Vulcan home world between diplomatic assignments, Spock1 made his way quietly into their shared office and began his newest exploits, only to be confronted by his father in a pre-recorded video…

Spock.

I am gravely disappointed in your choice to violate your mother's privacy. You have caused offense, and you shall now receive instruction. The privileges you enjoy as a member of this clan are suspended indefinitely…

He smiled privately to himself as he remembered swearing so loudly in surprise that he woke his mother. But when the pekh hits the fan…even at his age now, he missed his mother dearly. He thought about the lesson of respect he had learned that day – and how he sought to protect his mother from that day forward without fail.

For a slight moment, he regretted having to explain these things to this reality's form of Sarek, as Spock1 was not certain this same experience would have taken place in this reality. His mind came back fully to his present duty. He organized his thoughts and answered he who was almost his father and began coding his response.

New Vulcan

Star Date 2260.318

Sarek sat quietly working through a few administrative details, and then donned his heavy robes to join Ashalik at the medical center for a checkup. Walking silently together, he listened as she enjoyed the very early spring in their new home world. Early frost lilies were already bursting through snowy drifts, the coniferous groves swayed gently in the breeze, and small rodents very much like Terran squirrels were already out seeking more food to bury in preparation for a winter only nine months away.

During their appointment, they listened as Healer T'Mela worked to carefully document the healthy development of the first daughter of Sarek, and first child of Ashalik. She was healthy and developing as expected – and T'Mela had mapped her genome.

"She is growing well. You may rest in full confidence that she will experience no adverse effects resulting from her dual heritage. There were three genetic anomalies seen with relative frequency within the Betazoid genome, but they rarely present themselves. I am in communication with Healer Vayeda currently regarding these. Do not allow them to give you pause."

He listened to Healer T'Mela and watched the scan update on the screen of his PADD, grateful that his daughter would thrive under the watchful eyes of her healers.

"T'Sai, Vayeda and I anticipate the likelihood of delivery in the month of November at 94.355%."

As Ashalik and T'Mela continued to talk about the pregnancy, Sarek's PADD chimed softly with a message from Salaan. Thanking T'Mela, Sarek paired his fingers with Ashalik, and spoke over their bond.

/My wife, Salaan has sent a request for urgent attendance. My message has received a response. Please join me once your visit with T'Mela is completed./

/As you wish, k'diwa./

Ashalik walked toward her husband's office, curiosity gnawing at her. Who was this person seeking Sarek out? How did they know him so well? Why were they reaching out to him with proof of life? What should they do? Were they safe, or did they wish him harm? What of their daughter?

Pausing momentarily to send a brief message to her mother, she stepped into the reception room and removed her cloak. Salaan greeted her.

"T'Sai, he awaits you," Salaan said, as he handed her a freshly brewed cup of piping hot tea. "I will ensure privacy."

Thanking him quietly, Ashalik joined Sarek and Sekton as the door closed behind them, and the privacy buffer activated, eliminating any possible monitoring of what they were about to discover. Ashalik did not like the buffer, as it reverberated in her mind telepathically, but it was a necessary precaution.

Sekton finished running security screening to ensure no subroutines were running in the background of the message. "It is clear of any subterfuge, Shaile."

He looked at her and activated the message.

Osu,

I thank you for your response. I request a meeting with you and your most trusted staff as soon as possible, as the documentation supplied with my first message accurately reflects the dire circumstances of all individuals therein.

Regarding how I discerned this particular encryption standard – I am certain it has never been published, or even submitted for academic testing. I learned this language as a child. I learned this language from he, who created it, as he also took part in creating me.

The only proof I can offer is something you physically wrote on a picture my mother took of you on your honeymoon together… you both were in the Galapagos Archipelago. 'Sanekau wuh'ashiv hasu-ashaya se nakarat, hi navau goh kov nekhaya neskalar. Devel-tor du, Valdena t'nash-veh.' (Love is an endeavor at permeating another being, but only successful with mutual surrender. I choose Thee, My Joy.) You are left-handed, and your penmanship is exquisite.

Incidentally, it was through my disobedience and disrespect to my mother at age seven that introduced me to your coding language. However, I am not your son. I am a potentiality of him. He and I had a unique opportunity to meet two years ago, upon the resolution of conflict with Nero. We have agreed we shall not seek one another out again, as it would present extraordinarily serious consequences should our connection be realized by those outside of the confidence I seek to maintain for us all.

I humbly acknowledge your request for further details, and I simply ask that we meet so you may verify for yourself who I am. Once you are certain of this, we must discuss the misfortune of those trapped. They are in danger, yes, but they are not whom you believe them to be, and they have no one to champion their cause or desire for peace and safety.

I do not expect you will accept my word as trustworthy. I only do as my mother taught me: I hope. I would recommend that if you require such confirmation, you seek him out. I urge you to exercise utmost caution. I only request you receive this message as our ancestral Father instructed: I ask that we meet one another with careful hands. In this way, we both may have peace.

Mene sakkhet ur-seveh.