Star Trek: The Original Series - 161 - Savage Trade

by Tony Daniel

  “Human parents dote on their children.”

  “There is a difference,” Valek continued. “Varen and I are twins. This is a very uncommon occurrence on Vulcan. As such, we were deeply engaged in each other’s thought processes from a young age. We could be said to share the same Vulcan katra, or soul, although we have individually diverged. The ability of my brother and myself to mind-meld developed early, as well.” Valek sat back, templed her fingers. “For a time, Varen and I were inseparable, practically a unity.”

  “And along came Spock?”

  She nodded. “Yes, we were eight Vulcan years. Spock was treated . . . brusquely . . . by the other children. This was not intentional. It was the consequence of a faulty assumption. Everyone was aware that he was half human. Everyone compared him unfavorably with Sybok.”

  “Sybok?”

  “Ah, you are not aware . . .” She shook her head. “Well, it is not my place. And, in any case, the less said about Sybok, the better.” Valek’s eyes narrowed, and she gazed to the side, as if lost in memory. “Oh, many specious conclusions were drawn regarding Spock’s intellectual abilities and commitment to the Vulcan way. It was a product of the restricted logic of children. It was . . . unjust of us.”

  “Us?”

  “I am afraid that I joined in the chorus on occasion.”

  “That’s too bad.”

  “What can I say? Even Vulcan children are not always analytical. My conclusions were based on false assumptions, but I was not aware at the time that the assumptions were questionable.”

  “I see,” Kirk said. “The ignorance plea. At some point I hope you became aware.”

  “I did, James. Allow me to continue and I will explain how this came about.”

  “Please go on.”

  “You see, Spock had a sehlat—they are fascinating and somewhat dangerous beasts. For a while this seemed to be his only intimate acquaintance. My parents would not allow Varen and I to have a pet for . . . very logical reasons. At least they seemed logical at the time. Varen and I were both fascinated by Spock’s sehlat, whose name was I-Chaya. But it was Varen who approached Spock and began speaking to him about I-Chaya. Over time, these conversations became more frequent. They both discovered a commonality in thought processes.”

  “They made friends.”

  “More than that. They became laboratory partners in scientific experiments,” Valek said. “This is an important choice a Vulcan child must make during primary education.”

  “Pardon me—picking lab partners?”

  “It is one of the first freedoms given to children in order to exercise their newly acquired logical skills. A lab partnership is a commitment made for an entire Vulcan year. One spends a great deal of time with one’s partner.”

  “And Varen picked Spock over you?”

  “No. It is not permitted to partner with a sibling. Both Varen and I were required to find different lab partners. We knew this and planned accordingly. In fact, we made an agreement: for maximum objectivity, I would pick his partner and he would pick mine.”

  “How very . . . logical.”

  “So we thought.”

  “What happened?”

  “He chose for me D’Hrot, a budding young chemist, who was compatible enough—although even then I was showing more promise in law, interplanetary development, and economics.”

  “A young envoy on the rise, even at eight?”

  “Indeed,” Valek said.

  “And your choice for Varen?”

  “There was a girl, T’Mere, very talented in mathematics, who I believed would make an excellent laboratory partner for Varen. He sometimes showed slight deficiencies in that subject—particularly in statistics, an important element of experimental work—and I was of the opinion that she might aid him in that regard.”

  “And did she?”

  “There was no opportunity to find out. Varen rejected my choice. Instead, he told me Spock would be his laboratory partner. They were already doing research on sehlat intelligence and wanted to continue the project.”

  “This was not to your liking, I take it?”

  “At the time, I felt it was extremely illogical,” said Valek. She stared off to the side for a moment, as if remembering, then shook in a very human manner. “Despite his extremely high marks and clear abilities, Spock was believed by many of the children to be . . . deficient as a Vulcan. I . . . voiced these concerns to Varen. In the presence of Spock. And, to our entire school at an assembly. I questioned the wisdom of his parents’ marriage, as well.”

  “Not exactly a nice thing to do, in human terms,” said Kirk.

  “I know that. It is one of my major regrets,” Valek said. She picked up her ale and took a long drink from the glass. “It also served as a demonstration that I had a lot to learn if I ever wanted to be a diplomat like Spock’s father. You see, even though I held a low opinion of his son, I idolized Sarek. He was an example of what I wished to become: an ambassador for Vulcan.”

  “I’ve met the man,” Kirk said. “Spock is very much Sarek’s son, in his way.”

  “This was not apparent to me at the time,” replied Valek. “I believed Spock to be a sort of . . . thought experiment . . . on Sarek’s part. Then all that changed. Spock’s mother, Amanda Grayson, introduced herself to me. Spock had told her of my . . . disapproval. It does not take long when engaging with Amanda Grayson to realize just how formidable and intellectually adept she is, although in a human manner. In her Sarek made a superb choice.”

  “I agree,” Kirk said.

  “She is the first one who understood my intellectual propensities. It was she who later made certain that after my education was complete, I was invited to join Sarek’s staff. My personal debt to her is considerable.”

  “Back then, did she convince you of the error of your logic as far as Spock was concerned?”

  “She persuaded me to temper my judgment, yes. She also explained some of the particular difficulties Spock faced given his situation as a half-human child on Vulcan. I said no more after that.”

  “You didn’t apologize to Spock?”

  “I told him I had reconsidered my previous position regarding the lab partnership and that I now approved,” Valek replied. “But I never admitted to making an error in my larger conclusions, however. I perhaps should have, but the time for such has passed.”

  “Does Spock know his mother took you under her wing?”

  “I do not believe so,” she said. “There was never a logical reason to bring this to his attention. He is aware that I apprenticed under his father, and, of course, that Sarek and Amanda Grayson were acquainted with me when I was a child.” Valek shrugged. “But I am only one of the many protégés of Sarek. He is highly regarded, and a position on his staff is usually a stepping-stone to further interesting and fulfilling work on Vulcan and within the Federation. I am, perhaps, a reminder to Spock of the milieu he left behind when he decided to enter Starfleet. This is speculation on my part, but perhaps I am also a reminder of the difficulties that he and Sarek have had coming to terms with each other. There is talk of their relationship among the staff.”

  “Vulcans gossip?”

  “It is logical to provide oneself with as much information as possible.”

  “What became of Spock and Varen?”

  “Over time, Varen demanded Spock’s acceptance among our peers, and I backed his position, although I never advocated for Spock the way Varen did. He and Spock remained lab partners until Spock declined to enter the Vulcan Science Academy as his father wished and opted instead to attend Starfleet Academy. You probably know the story after that. My brother, Varen, was accepted into the Science Academy and has become a field biologist doing pioneering study of vertebrate extremophiles. He and Spock have gone their separate ways, but they still correspond on occasion.”

  “Old friends.”

  “Yes. That is an accurate, if very human, assessment.” Valek drained her cup. “As for Spock and myself—it is ver
y odd.”

  “What is?”

  “Spock and I seem to be intellectual irritants for each other. Yet I am mentally compatible with so many who are his close acquaintances. Such as you, James.”

  Valek leaned forward. “If you would not mind, give me your hand.”

  Kirk wondered where this was going, but stretched out his right hand, palm up. Valek held it from underneath with one of her hands. With the other, she lighted touched—stroked—the surface of Kirk’s palm.

  “You have experienced the Vulcan mind-meld before,” she said. It was not a question.

  “Yes, on several occasions.”

  “That is apparent,” she replied. Her fingers followed the lifeline on Kirk’s palm.

  Damn it, she’s a Vulcan, he thought. Surely she can see the logic of avoiding—

  He wasn’t exactly feeling logical at the moment, however.

  “Valek, I—”

  “Fascinating. I’ve never felt this state within a human before. There are pre-established pathways. One could almost enter into connection as one would a Vulcan—” Then he felt her, on the edge of his thoughts. It was as if she were staring into him as one might the swirls within a crystal ball. “Yet, I would not trespass without invitation.”

  Yes. No. Yes, but . . .

  “Valek, I think you know such a thing might be dangerous for you depending on—”

  The Vulcan drew her hand back and released his. “You make an excellent point, Captain Kirk.”

  What happened to James?

  “Do I?” He did not feel quite so sure of himself at the moment. Valek was very beautiful in her icy way. Kirk sighed. He leaned back and took a long drink of the Romulan ale.

  Valek moved back as well, crossed her arms. “Your pardon, James, if I transgressed. Humans have frequently been terra incognita for me. The opportunity to explore is enticing. Professionally.”

  “That’s all right, Valek.”

  “However, you are operating on incomplete information if you believe I might be in danger of telepathic fixation. As I have told you, as a twin, I am resistant to the pair bonding that many Vulcans undergo in childhood. I would not speak of this ordinarily, but I am aware you were once present at Koon-ut-kal-if-fee. My choices are not dictated by a bond, they remain my own.” Valek held Kirk’s gaze, said nothing for a moment, then finally said, “It is best that you leave.”

  Kirk smiled. “I think I’ll stay. If you can stand me, I can stand you. And thus we stand being around one another a while longer,” he said. “I think we might even enjoy it.”

  Valek cocked her head in an expression of perplexity. She’d never looked more Vulcan to him than in that moment. “I can locate no logic in this remark.”

  “You can say that again,” Kirk replied. Then he added, “But don’t,” just as Valek was about to do just that.

  Fifteen

  Captain’s Log, 6100.1. I have ordered all hands back to the Enterprise. Based on intelligence secured by Lieutenant Sulu and Ensign Chekov, I’m taking the fight to the L’rah’hane. Enterprise will go to the pirate and slaver base located at the heart of the Vara.

  “Captain, we’re being hailed from Zeta Gibraltar,” Uhura said.

  Kirk signed the ship’s final preparations orders on the slate handed to him by a yeoman, then swiveled in his command chair back toward the viewscreen.

  “Please inform Commander Contreras that we are in the midst of readying for departure to the nebula. We’ll communicate once we’re under way.”

  “Yes, sir,” said Uhura. “But it’s not the commander calling.”

  “Who is it, then?”

  “It’s . . . well, it’s the president, sir. Of the New Excalbia Assembly, I mean.”

  “The president,” Kirk said. “Very well, put him on.”

  The screen wavered for a moment, and Washington-Yarnek’s visage appeared. “Mister President, what can I do for you, sir?” Kirk said.

  “I’ll just take a moment of your time, Captain Kirk,” said Washington-Yarnek. “I would like to formally request that the New Excalbia Navy be permitted to accompany you on this punitive expedition.”

  “You want . . . what?”

  “We wish to help,” the president replied. “It would be a great honor, and an historic first step for our young navy, if you would grant us this privilege. Besides, I believe that we would have much to contribute. Mister Watt and Doctor Franklin have reached an understanding of the capabilities and limitations of our vessels. Admiral Nelson is chafing at the bit to be part of the action.” Washington-Yarnek made a slight bow of his head. “I also would like to join you, but on the Enterprise, so as not to come into conflict with Admiral Nelson on his ship. I may be mistaken about whether or not I can help, but there’s an old soldier still in me, and he longs to be in on this.”

  “I appreciate that, Mister President. It’s the limitations of those L’rah’hane vessels that I’m concerned with,” Kirk replied. “I don’t want to endanger them, and I’d be compelled to come to their defense.”

  “Another incoming signal, this one from the N.E.S. Victory, sir,” Uhura piped in.

  Kirk had a feeling he knew who it was. He sighed. “Add the admiral to the conversation, Lieutenant.”

  “Aye, sir.”

  “Kirk this is Nelson,” said a voice after a momentary crackle of static. Though the admiral was transmitting without visuals, Kirk easily recognized the commanding tone of the old sailor. He’d heard it a lot recently, and it was, of course, exactly how he’d imagined Nelson had sounded.

  “Admiral.”

  “Captain, we will in no way be a burden to you,” Nelson said. “On the contrary, we intend to be assets. But if that proves to be impossible, I give you my word that we will pull back, and even cut and run, if we are in any way interfering with your task.”

  “New Excalbia wants the opportunity to prove ourselves,” Washington-Yarnek said. “Both to you and to the Federation.”

  “What does Representative Valek think about this?”

  “We have persuaded her to see the logic of the proposition,” said Franklin. He had just entered the bridge along with Spock. They’d come to report on their progress with the Hradrian device. Franklin’s voice, as always, conveyed a tone of good humor. “She was very obliging.”

  “So she’s in on this, too, is she?”

  “I believe you will find her entirely behind us, Captain Kirk,” Franklin said. “We do not wish to present our decision to you as a fait accompli, however.”

  Although that’s exactly what you’re doing, Kirk thought.

  “The Assembly has no wish to strain relations. We feel this is an action we must and will take,” Washington-Yarnek said.

  “So you’re coming along whether I give permission or not.”

  “Damn right,” muttered Nelson. “Wouldn’t miss this for anything.”

  “We would much rather accompany you with your blessing than without, Captain,” Washington-Yarnek said.

  Kirk hardened his expression. “And if I forbid it?”

  Washington-Yarnek bowed his head graciously. “Then we would not come with you,” he replied. “Although we might feel compelled to follow at a . . . safe distance . . .”

  “I see,” Kirk said. He considered for a moment, then nodded. “I’m going to have to check in with Representative Valek. It goes well beyond my prerogatives as the senior Starfleet officer in system and becomes a Federation matter.”

  “This is acceptable,” Franklin said mildly. “We have truly come to an agreement with her. In fact, to be perfectly honest, she is the one who made the suggestion in the first place.”

  “Valek? She—”

  Yes, of course she did. Valek and Franklin seemed to be manipulating each other back and forth like a coin flipping across a magician’s fingers.

  “You’ll take overall command, Kirk,” Nelson cut in. “I’ve been studying your record. You’re a damn fine officer.”

  “Thank you, sir. And thank
you for your . . . faith in Federation leadership.”

  “Nonsense. I have faith in you, Kirk—you and your crew,” Nelson said. “You won’t regret having us by your side. I’ll see to that.” Nelson mumbled something, evidently to a crew member, that Kirk did not quite make out, then loudly said, “Anchors aweigh!”

  Kirk nodded for Uhura to cut both channels. Then he turned to Spock and said with a chuckle, “How do you like that? I’m calling the shots, according to the good admiral.”

  “Noble intentions on his part, no doubt, Captain,” said Mister Spock. “But he is Horatio Nelson, or at least believes himself to be.”

  “Let’s hope there’s something of the real Nelson in there somewhere,” Kirk said. “Where we’re going, we could use him.” He turned to Uhura. “Lieutenant, get me Representative Valek, please. She has some explaining to do.”

  “Aye, sir,” said Uhura. “Representative Valek.”

  “Onscreen, Lieutenant.”

  She appeared at her office desk, which was surprisingly crowded with unkempt data slates. It appeared she was not as neat as a pin after all.

  Why didn’t I notice this before? It occurred to Kirk that he’d spent a great deal more time in her quarters than he had in her workplace.

  “I suppose you are tempted to say ‘turnabout is fair play,’ Valek? I sprang the revolution on you and now you’re sticking me with its consequences?”

  “Not at all, Captain,” the Vulcan replied. She wore a look cool enough to turn lava to stone. “That would be a characteristic human reaction, completely illogical.”

  Kirk smiled ruefully. “I apologize,” he said. “I would be interested in knowing how you arrived at your decision.”

  Valek nodded. “Given our agreement with the Excalbians, the provisional governing body has established—”

  “I’m not sure they see it as provisional,” Kirk said.

  “The Federation now has a temporary treaty with the New Excalbia Assembly. They have not claimed the right to self-governance without responsibility, but have asserted their independence by assuming a sovereign responsibility—self-defense.”