As we saw in the previous chapter, duty is undoubtedly a core component of Vulcan culture, but this aspect must, of course, be governed by principles. For Vulcans, it seems clear that the most important principle must be that of justice. At least, that's what the series suggest. Could one imagine a Vulcan who is malevolent enough to be unjust? Beyond pon farr, and unless I've missed something, the answer is: impossible. A Vulcan always acts according to logic, and it is perfectly illogical to be unjust because justice is there to ensure the welfare of all.

But what is justice to a Vulcan? Is it merely a set of rules to follow blindly, or does personal judgment have a say?

To explore this, let's take the case of the famous "the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few" and its evolution. We first heard this memorable phrase in the film The Wrath of Khan, but we see it in action in many episodes of the series. Galileo 7 is surely an impressive example.

In this episode, the shuttle crew suffers an attack, and Spock finds himself trapped under a large rock. He orders the crew to leave him there, but they rescue him anyway. Once back at the shuttle, he is outraged that they ignored his orders. Even after they manage to take off and escape, he still accuses the crew of saving him, though it wouldn't have changed anything.

Here, Spock applies the principle literally. Although he had a chance of survival, he considers it far more logical to sacrifice himself for the common good.

In The Wrath of Khan, Spock enters a radioactive chamber, the only way to save the ship. As he is dying behind the glass door, he tells Jim on the other side, "Logic clearly dictates that the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few." Jim, devastated, responds, "Or the one."

Here, his choice is less clearly radical than in Galileo 7, as the Enterprise would have been doomed if no one sacrificed themselves, and Spock would have died anyway.

In the following film, The Search for Spock, it appears that Spock's soul and body can live separately and can be reunited during a Vulcan ceremony. After many adventures where the Enterprise breaks federal laws, the ceremony takes place, and Spock returns to life. Seeing Jim, he asks why they saved him. Jim responds, "Because the needs of the one outweigh the needs of the many."

In the next film, The Voyage Home, Amanda asks him if he still believes in this principle, and Spock replies that he does. She responds that this means he is here by mistake since his friends ignored this concept to save him. To which he replies that humans are sometimes illogical.

This suggests that Jim's intervention did not change Spock's perception.

Further in the film, he insists on saving Chekov even if it jeopardizes their mission to save the planet Earth. Jim, surprised, asks him, "Is that the logical thing to do?" and Spock replies, "No. It is the human thing to do."

This astonishing passage reveals that Spock's perception has radically changed. He understands the human perspective so well that he considers it logical to act illogically.

Although his katra had remained in McCoy's mind and his subsequent resurrection likely played a role in his evolution, the transformation is remarkable. In Galileo 7, he not only didn't understand why the crew saved him but considered the rescue a grave mistake, while in The Voyage Home, he proposes risking the crew and an entire planet to save the life of a single man.

As we see in this example, Spock is capable of adjusting in a very impressive way according to his personal judgment, and this flexibility will be further examined throughout the chapter.

But of course, in this fiction, we are still very far from The Voyage Home. We are dealing with the Spock of Galileo 7. A Spock who is the epitome of strict Vulcanism.

Jim burst out of the elevator like a storm unleashed, flanked by four guards, and made his way down the corridor as if in a nightmare. Stabbed… she had STABBED him! He was so enraged that everyone in the corridor, desperate for news, quickly moved out of his way. He rushed to Spock's door, which opened just as he reached it, and the chaos inside hit him like a slap.

At first, he thought he had the wrong door, then he saw Stone sitting at a small table, looking disheveled and as pale as a sheet.

"Wait outside," he ordered the guards curtly.

He entered, his eyes pinning like daggers on the lunatic who had married his best friend. Jo flinched under his glare, her knees threatening to give out as his rage simmered in the silence.

"Captain, is he…? How is he…? I mean, is he going to…?"

"What happened?" he asked in a cold voice, refusing to answer her.

She swallowed hard.

"I don't know, sir… It was… too strange."

"You don't know?" he growled as advancing toward her.

Instinctively, Jo took a step back.

"It's because of the Vulcan thing, I don't know what it is…" she said with a tearful, trembling voice. "Sir, is he…? Is he gonna make it?"

"Speak so that I can UNDERSTAND you!" he bellowed, his fury evident.

Jo flinched, scared by his glaze.

"What happened?" he repeated, his tone menacing.

"Sir… Mr. Spock did some Vulcan thing on me, and I was really scared, and… I attacked him… with this…" she said, pointing to the bloody screwdriver that had smashed onto the floor.

Kirk shuddered at the sight of the tool.

"He tried to mess with my head or something. A kind of psychic blitz ... Hell if I know," she tried to explain, panicked.

"You're saying that Spock assaulted you, is that right?" he asked in a harsh tone.

"Yeah… some kind of… assault, yeah," she said, unsure of what to call it.

"You want me to believe that Mr. SPOCK! The First Officer of this ship and a VULCAN would have ASSAULTED you!" he shouted in rage.

Jo realized he didn't believe her for a second. She buried her face in her hands, bursting into tears. Jim forced himself to take a deep breath, his captain's instincts battling his anger. This story was going to end up in a court-martial, and the procedure had to be followed impeccably because this woman was going to spend the rest of her days in the harshest penal colony he could find! He would handle it personally as he had never handled anything before!

Kirk glared at her with barely restrained fury before opening the door.

"Take her to the holding cell," he told the guards.

The young woman followed the escort without arguing, and Jim clenched his fist to prevent his hand from trembling. He couldn't die. Spock couldn't die. Not him. But if he did, he swore on the head of his deceased father, he would have that psycho's skin as surely as he was a Kirk!

The poor captain had all the time to fret as it was only two days later that Spock woke from the Vulcan coma. According to McCoy, the damaged organs had fully regenerated. Jim had almost cried. Almost. He would have liked to see him, but with McCoy banning all visits, he'd poured over the report again. He'd reread it—a flawless dossier, damning enough to send Stone straight to a high-security penal colony.

He set the tablet back down on his desk.

Now that his friend was out of danger, he could consider the situation more calmly. And he had to admit that everyone had always suspected this union was doomed from the start. The couple had barely set foot on the Enterprise when McCoy had rushed to him, pleading for their separation. Even Scotty had come to warn him, convinced Spock would end up as pulp—or worse, if luck wasn't on his side. And frankly, he'd seen firsthand just how little the Vulcan understood his new wife.

He sighed, leaning back in his chair.

He had to admit that, while Stone had almost killed him, she had also saved his life twice. First during that cursed mission, but most importantly, she had thrown herself into the midst of an enraged battalion of ants, risking her own safety to keep him from being torn to pieces. That had to count for something.

He had told her he would never forget what she had done for his friend, and, to be fair, he had to take that into account. Picking up the tablet again, he softened some of the wording and lowered her level of danger. The adjustments would ensure that her detention conditions would be less severe—at least until the Federation decided her fate and he altered their course to deliver this wretch to the nearest base as quickly as possible.

Finally, McCoy had him summoned, and he rushed to the infirmary. He found the Vulcan in his bed, propped up on pillows, looking as if he was in fine form. McCoy smiled at him and approached his friend's bedside.

"Spock, how are you feeling?" he asked, more emotional than he wanted to admit.

"Very well, Captain."

"He will have no lasting effects," McCoy announced with satisfaction.

"That's excellent news," Jim said with a smile. "I've brought the incident report. I suppose you'll want to review it."

He placed the tablet on the bedside table.

"It will not be necessary."

Jim looked at him in confusion.

"You don't want to verify the documents?"

"I do not intend to file a complaint."

"What!?" Jim stared, stunned.

"I do not intend to file a complaint," Spock repeated unfazed.

Kirk stared at him, caught off guard, while McCoy on the other side of the bed seemed equally astonished.

"Wait, do you refuse to do anything even though your wife tried to kill you!?"

"That is correct."

After a moment of shock, Jim's indignation boiled over.

"Have you lost your mind? There was an attempted murder on the ship!"

"I do not endorse that accusation."

"Spock, you have to consider she stabbed you right in the heart," McCoy said, serious. "At least, if your heart had been in that spot."

"It is a domestic incident."

"Not at all! My second officer can't just be murdered at any time without it threatening the safety of the Enterprise."

"I disagree. It is most likely an isolated incident."

Jim took a deep breath to regain his composure. Clearly, the stabbing had had unexpected psychological repercussions.

"Spock, without meaning to offend, your understanding of women is … limited," Jim assured, having already seen the depths of Vulcan misunderstanding. "You have to consider this attack as a critical matter."

"It is not. And in this specific case, my judgment is based on scientific data."

Since waking, Spock had immersed himself in data, studying everything that might explain his wife's aggression or shed light on its causes. The sociological study proved particularly interesting. He had concluded that the nahan-pohkau could be perceived as domestic violence, and in such cases, the murder of one spouse by the other was not uncommon among humans. Stone's particularly combative nature made this outcome somewhat rational.

"My wife was the victim of domestic violence."

Jim blinked.

"Domestic violence?"

He glanced at McCoy, who looked equally baffled.

"That is correct," Spock said, unbothered by their shock.

"I'm not sure I understand," Jim said cautiously.

" I acted logically, but from a human perspective, my actions could be seen as domestic violence. Johann was therefore in a state of self-defense."

Jim thought back to Stone's claim that Spock had attacked her. But hearing his second confirm it didn't make it any easier to believe.

"Spock, what exactly happened?" Jim pressed.

The Vulcan paused for a moment, considering what he was allowed to reveal to humans.

"My wife refused to obey me," Spock said flatly. "I had to encourage her to comply. I cannot provide further details, but upon verification, this encouragement may be perceived as violence according to the human definition of abuse."

"Are you telling us you tortured your wife to make her obey you!?" McCoy's voice rose in disbelief.

"It is not torture," Spock replied evenly. "It is an incitement. Vulcans respond positively to this form of intervention. I assumed it would be the same for Terrans. I was unaware that it would 'hurt' her."

"You can't force your wife to obey you, Spock!" McCoy shot back.

"She is married to a Vulcan and therefore has the same duties as all Vulcan wives," Spock said matter-of-factly.

Kirk and Bones exchanged a new incredulous glances. Under those conditions, it wasn't hard to see why Johann had wanted to kill him.

Jim cleared his throat.

"Terran women are not required to obey their husbands," he stressed.

"Then conflict would be inevitable," Spock argued.

"Indeed. And that's why we're capable of speech," McCoy said dryly. "To talk."

Spock looked at them, surprised. He hadn't given much weight to his wife's arguments, but if trustworthy males were confirming her claims, he had no choice but to reevaluate.

"And what happens if the discussion fails?" he asked.

"Both sides had to compromise," Jim said, pointed to the evidence. "You find middle ground."

"Considering human illogic, this seems unnecessarily complex with minimal chances of success," Spock observed.

"Like it or not, that's how things work," Leonard said angrily. "Demandin' obedience from a spouse is downright wrong."

"Yes. I understand," Spock said stiffly, irritated by McCoy's sharp tone.

He stayed silent for a moment.

"I'm not pressing charges, so my wife must be released. Once that is done, I wish to speak with her."

Jim blinked, thunderstrucked.

"Wait ... You want to resume your marital life as if nothing happened?!"

"Obviously."

"And I supposed I have no way to oppose this?" Jim asked exasperated.

Spock pondered for a moment, inventorying all possibilities.

"No, none."

"This is ridiculous," Jim said annoyed. "In that case, at least, you will not continue living together," he add sharply.

"That is out of the question."

"That's an order," Jim snapped.

"In this situation, Vulcan laws prevail," Spock said coolly.

"This is a security issue. I therefore have discretionary power!"

"To exercise it, you must file a report regarding the assault, Since I refute the accusation, no such process can occur."

Jim lowered his head, defeated.

"Spock, you are in danger living with her. The opposite would be illogical," he tried again.

"I am in no danger with Johann. This was a misunderstanding."

"A misunderstood stabbing?" Jim ironized.

"Yes. Following our marriage, I acted as any Vulcan husband would. I could not have predicted Johann's poor reaction. I believed she simply needed time to adjust and her aggressiveness seemed natural in that context, but clearly, it wasn't.

"And it didn't occur to you that you should act humanely with your human wife, Spock?"

"I have not had the opportunity to study human couples. I cannot know their operational rules without observation."

"We've talked about women before," McCoy reminded him. "If you'd listened to me, maybe we wouldn't be here."

"That discussion pertained to a mission order, and I followed your procedure during the mission. This is a private relationship."

McCoy looked at him as if he couldn't believe he was that alien.

"Mission or not, the guidelines apply at all times!"

"Really?" Spock asked, genuinely surprised.

"Yes, really!" McCoy snapped.

"I will take that into account," Spock said thoughtfully. "As well as Johann's aggressiveness. That is why I estimate there is only a 0.05% chance of her attempting to kill me again."

Jim knew he'd lost the argument, but McCoy wasn't done.

"In that case, I insist that you undergo therapy!"

Spock looked at him, stunned.

"It's unavoidable," Jim quickly agreed.

Spock grew sullen, clearly searching for a way out.

"As a psychologist, I have every right to prescribe therapy! You will need to meet with me and Mrs. Stone once a week."

Spock sighed in exasperation.

"Very well," he said, displeased. "Now, since you're reassured as a psychologist, may I see my wife?" he asked tersely.

McCoy glanced at Jim, who nodded in approval.

"Yes, I'll call her in," Bones said, turning to leave the room. "Jim, you need to confirm her release."

Kirk glanced at Spock, the weight of the mistake settling in. From the moment this mission had been greenlit, he'd known it was a disaster waiting to happen.

"Spock," Jim said, his voice low, "You'd better be damn careful with her."

"I will, Captain," Spock replied, his tone measured but tight.

Jim let out a frustrated sigh, his fists clenching. With nothing left to say, he followed McCoy, his steps heavy.

"Don't worry, Jim," Bones said once they were alone. "I'll keep an eye on them, like a good old mother hen."

"I guess that's better than nothing," he said, heading to the monitor.

He gave his orders and stood by as he waited for Stone. A few minutes later, she arrived, clearly in shock. Jim felt a bit reassured. If she was going to act out again, it surely wouldn't be today. He stared at her sternly, and she stood at attention. He approached her to look down at her.

"I have only one thing to say. If you ever dare to lay a hand on him again... If I see a single bruise, the slightest scratch... I will kill you with my own hands," he said with complete sincerity. "Is that clear?"

"Yes, sir," she said, staring straight ahead.

He looked at her in silence for a moment, then left the room quickly as Jo huddled. She looked so pitiful that McCoy felt compassion.

"He's in there," he said, pointing to the dormitory. "Go on."

Jo swallowed hard and walked toward the door. She saw him half-lying in his bed. She stopped at the entrance, hesitant to approach, but he looked up at her without showing any animosity. Tears immediately began to well up in her eyes. She tried to control herself but couldn't manage and burst into sobs.

"I'm so sorry! I'm so sorry!" she hiccupped. "I nearly killed you. I never thought I could… do that."

"As you can see, I am not dead," he remarked to put things in perspective.

Jo looked at him with red eyes.

"I stabbed you right in the heart. How can you be this calm?" she said in a small voice.

"There is no logical reason to react otherwise," he said as if it were obvious.

Jo sniffled, staring at him in disbelief. It was just like him to take it this way.

"I would appreciate it if you tried to remain rational. This emotionality prevents any meaningful exchange."

Jo wiped her eyes with her sleeve and nodded, signaling that she would try.

"I spoke with the captain, and he will not be filing a report on this incident. You will not have to answer for your actions."

She looked at him incredulously. Hell, the captain looked like he wanted to rip her head clean off. What kind of screwed-up thing is this?

"What? I mean… I attacked you. He can't…"

"I consider this was an exceptional circumstance."

Jo stared at him, bewildered.

"You put me in contention because I don't want to follow you out of the cafeteria, but an attempted murder? That's not a problem?" she said, astonished.

"You were a victim of domestic violence and therefore acted in self-defense."

She looked up in surprise.

"You consider that you… assaulted me?" Jo asked, not expecting this at all.

"Yes. Of course, I could not know that the nahan-pohkau was inappropriate for interacting with a human wife, but nonetheless, I did assault you."

"So that's why the captain isn't doing anything," she realized.

"That's correct. There cannot be a crime if I don't press charges against you."

Jo was stunned. Damn, a human would have locked her up for life, but he didn't even care. He had taken all this crap upon himself. Sure, she had defended herself, but Jesus fucking Christ, she had still stabbed him. A human could never have overlooked something like that.

She was beginning to understand that he subscribed to an ideal of extreme justice. Really extreme. If he wanted her to obey him, it was because it was his duty, period. He wasn't trying to gain any advantages for himself as she had thought; he was simply adhering to this ideal and obeying it in everything, no matter the cost. And while this made him a perfect fool in some respects, it also made him someone truly admirable in others.

"Sit down. We need to talk," he said, indicating the visitor's chair.

The young woman pulled the chair up to the bed and sat next to him. Spock watched her in silence for a moment while she struggled to believe that he was truly letting things go.

"I believe I made a judgment mistake regarding you. After the wedding, I have acted as any Vulcan would have, but now I realize that this attitude is not suitable for Terrans, or at least, not for you."

Jo couldn't help the tears welling up in her eyes as she finally heard him say something sensible about this shitty marriage.

"I misjudged your emotional distress. I am not familiar with this form of duty towards a human, a duty that I failed by ignoring your discomfort. I believe this is partly what led you to exhibit so much aggression."

Jo nodded in agreement, trying to hold back her tears.

"Well, yeah… It definitely didn't help."

"I am sorry, Johann," he said, looking at her with understanding. "I believe it is appropriate to apologize to you."

She looked at him, unable to believe it.

"Do you really mean it this time?"

"Yes. My behavior was inappropriate under the circumstances."

She gave him a regretful smile.

"Well, I'm sorry too. I wasn't very nice either. I made you go through a lot of crap…"

"I consider that the recent events are due to misunderstandings on both sides. If you agree, perhaps we could move past them and proceed with a clearer understanding"

Jo frowned.

"Does that mean you're going to give up the idea that I have to obey you?"

Spock shrugged.

"I suppose that is a possibility."

"And that's clearly the right one," she said, sniffing.

They remained silent for a moment.

"There is also a subject I wish to address with you," he finally said.

He looked at her gravely.

"I denied you access to information that you consider essential."

Jo looked at him, intrigued.

"You're talking about the kircan thing, right?"

He nodded but looked down as if it made him uncomfortable.

"It seems really hard for you to talk about it, huh?"

"It is extremely taboo. No non-Vulcan has ever been privy to it. This knowledge is communicated to us during a very closed ceremony and is not a subject for discussion."

"Listen, I'm serious, this isn't some whim. After putting up with all this shit, I at least need to know why all this crap landed on me. You understand? And I won't say a word about it."

He nodded.

"It is not appropriate to discuss this topic but I can give you this information through a mind-meld. However, I warn you, this memory is extremely disturbing."

"Fine. I'm getting used to seeing disturbing stuff in your head, no kidding."

Spock pointed to the edge of the bed, and Jo got up to sit in front of him.

"On Vulcan, we have techniques that allow us to preserve certain memories. Upon reaching adulthood, young Vulcans are confronted with the memory of ancient times to help them understand the value of Surak's teachings. This memory is that of an anonymous Vulcan from the 4th century; or more precisely, it is the memory I retained of that memory."

Jo nodded, and he gazed into her eyes.

"We will not speak of it. Ever."

Jo nodded again, and he raised his hand to place it on her cheek.

She was in a cave dimly lit by torches. They were one or two hundreds gathered there, and she was exulting. As everyone, she was wildly excited. Around her was an incredible uproar. Screams, howls, high-pitched songs that pierced her ears. People were jumping up and down, raising their arms to the sky, shaking with spasms. She herself was stamping her feet as if she were caught in madness.

Suddenly, an extraordinary silence fell over the assembly, and she froze. A high priest dressed in a white robe ascended a platform before them. A dozen attendants followed him. In his arms, he held a tiny naked baby who was wailing at the top of its lungs. It was a kir'kan; she knew it. Everyone knew it. All the sacred children were brought to this platform. She exulted, so thrilled by this sight that she had the greatest difficulty staying calm.

The high priest raised the baby high and shouted disjointed words. Enemies! War! Power! Victory! Like everyone else, she repeated the words, yelling, each one sending shivers of ecstasy through her. She felt their strength! The strength their Gods gave them.

The high priest handed the child to one of his attendants who held it before him, and she almost wet herself with excitement. A disciple handed a large blade that the high priest took. He raised it above the baby, and a fierce joy filled her boiling heart. The officiant brought the blade down and the newborn let out an indescribable cry of agony. She screamed, joining him with exhilaration; they all screamed.

The bowl held beneath the baby quickly filled as the awestruck audience cheered the massacre with fervor. The priest dipped a twig-like brush into the bowl, shaking it over the faithful. Jo opened her mouth, felt the droplets hit her face, and, with a twisted delight, tasted the…

She jolted so violently that she nearly fell off the small infirmary bed. Her stomach churned, and she felt nauseated. She jumped up, one hand over her mouth. She tried desperately not to throw up and forced herself to ignore the lingering taste of blood on her tongue. But the cry of agony echoed in her mind. Oh my God! She had felt it all as if she had lived it herself! And that atrocity was only the beginning of this demonic ceremony … but thankfully, thankfully! she would never know the rest.

Jo wrapped her arms around herself as if she were cold. Spock looked at her with what seemed to be compassion and extended his hand. Still in shock, she moved closer and placed her fingers on his. The energy bubble surrounded them, and immediately, she felt better. Protected. They remained like that, without speaking, and the calm emanating from the Vulcan soothed her. He waited for her breathing to slow a bit. She sensed that he had something important yet to say.

"To our knowledge, this last occurred in the mid-4th century Earth time. But if you terminate your pregnancy, it will be the first time in almost two thousand years that a kir'kan…" he said, with a significant look.

Jo glare at him, not understanding, then realized. She withdrew her hand quickly, and the energy bubble dissolved.

"What?! Have you completely fucking lost it?! It's not the same thing at all!" Jo exclaimed, scandalized.

"Obviously. It's not comparable. Termination of pregnancy is a logical medical procedure. But as I mentioned, this subject is extremely sensitive. These events have left deep scars in our history. You are expecting a kir'kan, and in the eyes of a Vulcan, there is an unbearable familiarity, even if only symbolically."

Jo crossed her arms and looked at him, troubled. It was a really stupid comparison, but after what she had seen, hell, it was understandable that Vulcans would be traumatized and act crazy about it.

"Perhaps you understand better now why I tried to prevent you from having an abortion by all means."

"Yeah, even to the point of marrying me…" she said as if it were the dumbest thing ever.

"Yes. It's what made our marriage logical."

So that was it. He'd married someone he didn't give a shit about and screwed up his life to atone for a bunch of assholes who lived two thousand years ago. Damn, when it came to obeying an ideal of extreme justice, Vulcans were completely insane.

"But I now see that you perceived my opposition as an abuse of power," he continued. "On Earth, abortion is an inalienable right regarding justice. Opposing it was unacceptable from that perspective. You may have even perceived it as a form of torture."

Jo looked at him long and hard, in silence.

"Yeah… Of course, » she agreed.

He nodded.

"It was my duty to prevent this situation from occurring, but since it involves committing an injustice against you, I no longer consider myself morally bound to this duty. You therefore regain your right to terminate your pregnancy without my consent."

Jo felt tears welling up again as a ton of titanium seemed to lift off her shoulders. No kidding, when your dignity had been stripped away, you realized what a price it had.

"Our relationship matters to me," he said with an unusual affection. "May it be long and prosper. But that will not be possible if I oppose your will. Using my right would therefore be illogical."

She smiled through her tears, and he extended his hand again. She hesitated for a moment, then moved closer to place her fingers on his, causing the energy link to spread around them.

He looked at her, squeezing his fingers around hers, then brought his hand to his lips and gently placed a kiss there. A weird old-fashioned gesture that made her smile. He was completely out of touch with his kiss-on-the-hand, but it had to be said, he was cute with his attempts to charm her in a human way. He looked at her a moment longer, then let go of her hand, causing the Vulcan refuge to disappear.

"Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to rest."

"Yeah. Of course," she said understandingly.

She watched him for a moment without saying anything.

"So… Does this mean I'm free?"

"Obviously."

She smiled at him in silence.

"Thank you, Commander."

"It is unnecessary to thank me. If you need to express gratitude, it is to logic that you should direct it."

Jo look at him. How absurd ... At least she could be sure of one thing: he was unmatched in coming up with crazy stuff.

"I'm glad you made it through," she said, meaning it sincerely.

"Mrs Stone."

He nodded to her, and she turned, feeling much lighter-hearted than when she had entered. She exited the infirmary, lost in thought, and almost bumped into Nurse Chapel, whom she hadn't noticed. Standing straight and haughty in the middle of the infirmary, Chapel glared at her with what could only be described as pure hatred. Her whole demeanor suggested that the next time Jo needed an injection, she would likely put arsenic in the syringe. That's when Jo realized that if the Commander didn't hold a grudge, he was clearly the only one.

"It was an accident, Miss Chapel," she said, trying to calm things down.

It didn't make much of an impression on the nurse. Jo held Chapel's venomous gaze for a second, then looked down and left without further comment.

Spock adjusted his pillows to sit up, very satisfied with their conversation. He had managed to show interest in his wife's emotions—a real feat for a Vulcan—and Johann had responded very positively. But more interestingly, she had reacted favorably to the human approach called "romantic." Consequently, it was an incentive to be taken seriously.

In principle, romanticism involved prioritizing feelings over reason, which at first glance didn't seem to be his forte. However, in terms of romantic relationships, it was essentially about demonstrating attachment through specific attitudes and codified gestures called "attentions." For example, the hand-kissing technique he had learned from "The Passion of an Heiress," one of the romance novels he had consulted in preparation for the mission.

Nevertheless, to use romanticism as an incentive, his knowledge was clearly insufficient.

He pulled the monitor toward him and pressed the colorful buttons on the small console. He navigated to the library of fifty-six thousand novels and selected the category "Love and Romance," which included five thousand eight titles. He browsed through the first ones and between "If I Surrender to You," "The Klingon with Azure Eyes," or "The Temptation Game," he randomly chose "Love at the Edge of the Stars", approaching the task with a Vulcan scientific rigor as he began the tedious reading.

Note -

This chapter has delved into ancient times, and one might rightly question whether it is credible that Vulcans could have committed such atrocities. Given that canonical materials on this era are extremely scarce, I would say it's up to each fan to form their own opinion.

In this fanfiction, I imagine a ceremony where ancient memories are reviewed to show young adults the importance of Vulcan discipline. Logically, such an endeavor would present the worst possible memories to demonstrate the extent of the violence that prevailed before Surak. Given the rarity of such ancient materials, it's most likely that all Vulcans on the planet were exposed to nearly the same memories. Therefore, even if these sacrifices were not very common or were the work of an obscure group of crazies, they would still have a major impact on the Vulcan psyche.

The Holocaust of World War II had a similar impact, leaving deep scars on human memory that resonated through generations. Even though other atrocities have occurred throughout history, this particular one seems to have struck humanity with a unique horror. Its memory is so powerful that, despite the continued need to eliminate one's neighbor in our species, there remains an unspoken boundary that few would dare to approach again.

Similarly, it seems to me that a ceremony like the one described in this chapter could traumatize entire generations of Vulcans and lead them to oppose any action that even remotely resembles this terrible episode in their history.

Fortunately, common sense has prevailed, and Jo has now regained her right over herself. Does this mean Spock has given up? Considering that Vulcans are as stubborn as humans, this idea is highly unlikely. But how far would a Vulcan go to keep his kir'kan and make Jo a good wife? This is the very interesting question we will address in the next chapter.