by Commander Salvek
90315.0300
Following The Summit
-=Vulcan=-
90315.0300
Following The Summit
-=Vulcan=-
He wandered aimlessly through the corridors, knowing that when he had found the correct place, he would be told so.
The Temple at Mount Seleya extended from the plateau at the entrance deep into the face of the mountain. Once past the narthex and nave, where the Masters gave lectures on logic and reason to those willing to make the ascent to the summit, one entered the caverns that formed the ancient heart of The Temple.
Most of the caves were formed by nature, with small contributions here and there by the Vulcan people. The narrow corridors and thick rock separated larger open caverns, where The Masters could meet in private with those seeking help in the pursuit of pure logic.
The history here was a violent one.
Before The Time of Awakening, many battles for supremacy of the ancient religions were held here. It was believed that those who held the Temple held with it the ability to dictate their beliefs to the Vulcan people.
The rocks still bore the scars of ancient weapons, and blood stains of fallen warriors. The markings were left to the ages as a historical curiosity, and warning to those who would seek to return Vulcan society to the old ways.
This history was not lost on Salvek, who had walked these corridors before, and asked the questions regarding the markings on the walls.
The torches anchored to the rocks lit the way for him, as he probed cautiously inward. It was not unusual for one to spend hours searching for The Master that one was to rendezvous with. There were no maps of this place. When the time was right, a Vulcan and their Master would be joined.
While such an inefficient practice may seem illogical, the wandering was in fact meant to give a Vulcan time to think, and prepare mentally for what lay ahead. It was in fact the first lesson they learned here. Patience.
He passed chamber after chamber, with Vulcan students at work with their instructors. From time to time he would stop and listen. It was acceptable and even encouraged for those who came here to absorb wisdom in any way they could. It also served as a test of the student’s focus and mental discipline, if they could remain centered on their Master, rather than those passing by outside the chamber.
An old man and a young girl; a priestess…those who sought counsel here came from all walks of life and all ages.
Salvek began to lose track of time as his search continued. He had little doubt he had been ambling for a matter of hours, but how many, he did not know. He stroked his chin thoughtfully, and felt the sharp edges of his beard filling in on his chin. He had not shaved since they had departed the Alchemy, nearly a day ago by this point.
“Salvek, Son of Sakkath and T’Shanik.” A male voice boomed through the corridor, from nearby. Salvek entered the first chamber up ahead, laying eyes on the Vulcan inside as the man continued. “Brother of Sacul, husband of Lair Kellyn, father of Lair Arie.”
The Master’s face came into focus as Salvek approached. He appeared to be a man of about one hundred ten with slightly graying hair, with a clean-shaven face, and the very beginnings of crow’s feet forming at the corners of his eyes.
He wore a long red robe draped over his shoulders, covering a dark orange tunic underneath. His lapel bore the Vulcan symbol in sterling silver, and geometric patterns of triangles of various shades of red descended down the front of his robe.
“First Officer of the Federation Starship USS Serendipity, registry number NCC two zero one two, under the Command of Captain Zanh Liis, and attending Starfleet Admiral Gemini Lassiter.”
The Master stopped speaking, and Salvek waited for his instruction.
“I am V’Drea. Please, be seated.”
The table between Salvek and V’Drea was empty, save for a plate of food. Salvek did as he was told, sitting down.
“You must be hungry, eat.”
“It is forbidden for a Vulcan to take food in the Temple,” Salvek reminded him.
“Yes, but you are not quite Vulcan, are you Salvek.”
V’Drea pushed the plate forwards, and Salvek examined the contents.
“Hasperat? A Bajoran dish.”
“This suits you best, does it not, Salvek? You have embraced a Bajoran mate, and the intensity of her emotions. Turned your focus away from the Kolinahr. Your training remains incomplete to this day.”
“I have not come here to defend my choices in lifestyle, Master. I come in search of relief, from a pain deep inside me.”
V’Drea stroked his cheeks with his thumb and forefinger in thought. “Yes, your nemesis, this Romulan Taris, died recently. I will need your thoughts on this matter. The records surrounding your mission were not accessible.”
Salvek instinctively turned away as V’Drea reached for him. “You must not. The events are classified, and I do not wish for you to touch what I have. To end up as I have.”
“Of course, your first duty is to Starfleet. How much can you tell me?”
“Only that I have been infected by pure malevolence. When Taris was dying, I felt anger towards her, for the suffering she caused not only my family, but my friends as well. I did not want to carry that bitterness inside of me for the rest of my days. So I searched her soul for the smallest piece that was not evil, and forgave her to ease my katra. When I did this, the hatred in her invaded me, and I can no longer control it from manifesting itself.”
V’Drea circled the table slowly as Salvek spoke, absorbing every word and processing their meaning, not just for the sake of recent events, but also to understand the tapestry of Salvek’s entire life.
“Your situation is rare, Salvek of Vulcan. It is not uncommon, given our race’s contact with other species, for Vulcans to have trouble controlling their emotions after a meld. It is generally a simple task to guide them back on course. What makes you unique is that you have already rejected the completion of your training. Knowing the proper course for you, and restoring you to it, will be most difficult. I must mediate on this.”
V’Drea took the plate from the table, and vanished behind the rocks into another cavern. Salvek remained seated, assuming that was what the Master wished.
After several minutes his impatience began to grow. He shifted in his seat, fiddled with his hands, and finally slammed his first down on the table.
*Is he ever coming back?*
*This is a waste of time. What a fool I was to come here.*
*How dare he treat me like this.*
He brooded for nearly an hour, until V’Drea returned, just as Salvek was considering smashing the table before him to pieces.
“Why did it matter?” V’Drea asked, as he sat across the table from Salvek.
“Why did what matter?”
“Why did it matter to you that you not carry the anger you felt towards Taris through your life?”
“I did not wish for it cause negative emotions in me to present themselves. I feared the effect this would have on my family.”
“But Salvek, you are Vulcan. You are trained and taught to understand how to suppress these feelings. You are also trained to understand that death is simply a natural part of life. Yet, for some reason, a part of you was concerned not just for the well being of your own spirit, but hers as well. Why not simply let her die?”
“Because…” Salvek began, but V’Drea cut him off.
“What did your Captain wish for you to do?”
“Leave her to die.”
“The logical decision.”
Of all the things Salvek anticipated hearing, the implication that in matters of logic he was in the wrong and Zanh Liis was in the right was not one of them.
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Commander Salvek
First Officer
USS Serendipity
Commander Salvek
First Officer
USS Serendipity