by Commander Salvek
90329.0200
Days Ago: One Day After The Summit
-=Vulcan=-
90329.0200
Days Ago: One Day After The Summit
-=Vulcan=-
Ensign Sten stood coldly and dispassionately looking out over the Fire Plains of Raal, with Lair Arie at his side. They had been here the last six hours, just looking, and appreciating aesthetics of the natural features. Arie was seriously beginning to wonder if Sten were really that interested in the Fire Plains, or if he were just stalling for time.
She had noted that almost a day before, he had taken a brief call, and Arie wondered if it was her parents. Sten had refused to say, which as Arie understood from her experience with adults, always meant yes.
She was eager to leave this place, not because she was bored, (boredom was after all an emotion), but because she was hoping for news of her parents.
As historically significant as the places Sten had taken her to see on Vulcan were, they in no way helped Arie understand why she was here. She was supposed to be here, she knew that much. Arie was so sure her presence was required her for her father’s sake, that she had all but refused to allow Kellyn to leave her on the ship.
“Greetings.”
Sten instinctively spun around, placing himself between Arie and the approaching stranger. As soon as he recognized the newcomer however, Sten realized there was no cause for alarm. He stepped back to the side to allow The Master, V’Drea to approach Lair Arie.
“My father?” She asked, knowing immediately that the man before her was one of the priests from Mount Seleya.
“Your intuitive skills are sharp Lair Arie. I am impressed.”
“It is only logical that, based upon your manner of dress, and the fact you approached us of all the people visiting the Fire Plains today, that you must be one of the priests who is helping my father.” Arie’s tone was completely matter-of-fact.
V’Drea nodded to Sten, who stepped away several meters to allow Arie and V’Drea to talk in private.
“We were able to purge the Romulan’s presence from your father’s katra. It was, truthfully, your mother that helped to rescue him. He loves her deeply, so much so that logic alone could not have saved him. Only their combined strength could. We merely brought them together to help them realize that apart, they would both fail.”
“Then it is time to depart. Perhaps mother was right. I should have stayed on the ship.”
V’Drea ignored her comment. “Will you walk with me Arie?” He asked. She bowed respectfully, and followed his lead, as Sten fell into step far enough behind to see Arie, but not hear their conversation.
“My name is V’Drea. I expect your parents will be along shortly to bring you back to Earth. I wished to speak with you in private before they arrived.”
“I am listening,” Arie answered.
“These are changing times for Vulcan, and our philosophies. When were alone, and isolated, everyone simply followed the rule of logic and there was very little discussion otherwise.”
Arie could already see where the discussion was headed.
“As the Federation grows, and more and more of our people join Starfleet, the number of Vulcans taking alien mates continues to grow. Obviously, none of them are quite like us. Humans, Bajorans, Klingons, Andorians, they all express their emotions without reservation.”
“And when they have children, the question of bringing them up strictly Vulcan is raised.” Arie summed up V’Drea’s thought.
“Correct. Have you decided if you complete the Kolinahr?”
Arie suddenly felt very self-conscious.
The answer should have been an immediate and resounding yes. She would reject the emotions of her Bajoran half, and embrace a fully Vulcan life.
However she simply had not decided. The disciplines her father had taught her came naturally, and felt right. Yet, at the same time, learning about the Bajoran culture and the Prophets felt natural to her as well.
“I… I simply do not know yet, sir.”
“A logical answer.”
Arie had braced herself for a lecture. She had expected this day to come where she would be confronted about which path to chose. V’Drea’s response took her completely by surprise however.
“But, should I not already have chosen the path to logic? Is that not what you would wish?”
“It is what I would recommend Arie, but the spirit of two worlds runs in your veins. We have come to learn that when half Vulcan children attempt to fully embrace one life, or another, they often end up living no life at all.”
V’Drea paused and turned towards Arie. Far behind Sten stopped as well, watching from afar as the conversation continued.
“Your parents are intelligent and wise. Use what they teach you, but always remember to be true to yourself.”
Arie attempted to process his words, but the sight of her mother and father approaching caught her eye. Relief came over her, as she saw her father’s hand tightly holding her mother’s.
“Are we interrupting, Master V’Drea?” Salvek asked, not wishing to intrude on a private session between the Master and Arie.
“I believe you can handle it from here, Salvek.” V’Drea stepped aside, inclining his head respectfully to Salvek, then once again to Lair Kellyn.
As V’Drea took his leave, Arie’s frustration was evident on her face.
“What is the matter, Arie?” Salvek asked.
“I believed my path would become evident here; that I was meant to come to Vulcan with you now, during this time of crisis, to learn about myself. But I am even more confused now then before. What am I meant to be father? Mother?”
“Arie,” Kellyn began, “You are so intelligent, it scares me to death sometimes. But you are also still so young. Too young to have already decided what the rest of your life will be.”
“You are our daughter Arie,” Salvek continued, “As you have learned from Zanh Liis. Perhaps the reason you needed to come to Vulcan was not to find a path, but rather to understand that your path is still open to your choosing. My own heart is of Vulcan and Bajor both. I cannot deny that, nor do I wish to. Yours is as well.”
“But how will I choose? How will I know what is right for me, and why I was meant to be raised here and now, by you?”
Kellyn could feel the turmoil in Arie, that she should embrace her father’s way of life and her mother’s but really belong to neither.
“You must choose for yourself. We can only offer you our wisdom and hope you use it to your own advantage.”
Salvek placed his hand on her shoulder. “You may embrace the Kolinahr, or you may walk with the Prophets. Perhaps you will do neither. Your whole future is ahead of you. Do not concern yourself with why you were brought here, or what you are meant to do.”
“But I wish to follow in your footsteps,” Arie said, addressing both of her parents.
“You might feel that way now, but your desires may change as you grow older. Promise us both you won’t continue our work just because you believe it is what we want you to do,” Kellyn requested. The last thing she wished for Arie to feel she was tied down from following her dreams because she was obligating to continue her father and mother’s research.
“I promise,” Arie said slowly.
“Perhaps there was a time I would have expected that of you,” Salvek said. “A purely Vulcan child would have been expected to take up her father’s work. But you are Lair Arie, the daughter of my wife, and there is no other child I would rather have to call my own.”
Salvek continued speaking, as he began walking her towards the transporter hub they had arrived at.
“When we return to the ship, I will attend Vedek Jariel’s classes with your mother and yourself. That is of course, only if you wish to attend them as well. I also want you to spend more time with the non-Bajoran and Vulcan members of the crew, so you can be exposed to everyone’s point of view.”
Kellyn and Salvek each took Arie by a hand, with Ensign Sten in tow, as they made their way back to the Alchemy. Arie was still full of so many questions, which they could only assure her would be answered in time.
A grinning Ashton Ledbetter greeted them on the bridge.
“Welcome back, I hope you all enjoyed Vulcan as much as I did.”
“Right,” Kellyn said. She found his jovial demeanor rather unusual and somewhat disturbing. “I think we are all ready to go home.”
“So you know who is definitely taken care of?” Ledbetter winked, not wishing to mention Taris in front of Salvek or Arie, even though they both knew what he meant.
“Indeed, she is.” Salvek said firmly.
“Pity. I could have stayed here forever.” Ledbetter said. “Very well then. Ensign Lassiter, at your earliest convenience, bring us back to the Earth.
***********************
Commander Salvek
First Officer
USS Serendipity NCC-2012
Commander Salvek
First Officer
USS Serendipity NCC-2012