S&S&ST Chapter Seventeen: FIRE EVERYTHING!!!
Outline
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Every day T’Pring was getting closer to her time of Pon Farr, and still had not told Neronika. With no other choice before her, she could delay no longer and scheduled an appointment with her prospective mother-in-law.
The next day at three o’clock sharp, T’Pring arrived at entrance door A-14 of the Narada. As Ayel led her to Neronika’s private quarters, she explained, “My mother doesn’t take kindly to Vulcans, so keep a civil tongue about you.”
“Yes, ma’am,” she answered demurely, all the while calculating the most logical way to state her appeal. By that time they had arrived.
“Enter,” Neronika called imperially, and the door opened automatically at the sound of her voice. “What have you come to discuss with me? I have a busy schedule, so make it snappy.”
“I have been engaged these six years,” she began respectfully. As she spoke, an artery throbbed menacingly in the Romulan’s neck, but she plunged on, unperturbed, “To your daughter, Nyota. And I ask for your blessing in our marriage ceremony.”
There was a terrible, ghastly silence. Neronika glared at the woman who wished to become her daughter-in-law. It was lucky for the other inhabitants of the ship that the room was soundproofed. “You will get nothing from me,” she thundered, “Much less the hand of my daughter! FIRE EVERYTHING!!!”
Just then, Uhura herself had the great misfortune to walk in on them. Realizing her mistake, she exited the room, but was summoned back. “Is it true that you have been engaged to this young woman of inferior birth?”
“Mother, T’Pring is a Vulcan. This does not make her inferior in any way, especially if you consider that we are distant cousins. And I object strongly to your classification of her as such.”
“Nyota,” she said, in a stage whisper intended to carry across the room, “They’re not like us. This abandonment of emotional background is simply not natural.”
“I cannot do that. She is my thy’la and I am hers. If we do not consummate our marriage at the appointed time, both of us will die.”
“Then die,” her mother said coldly. “It would be a just punishment for seeking a connection with one of our hated cousins. Or, if you refuse, you can die by starving in the streets for all I care.”
Uhura drew herself up to her full height and dared to look her mother in the eye. “There is only one answer I can honorably give you,” she answered. “I will marry T’Pring. In fact, I accept your disownment of me with open arms. It is the greatest gift you can give me, because I have long been embarrassed of you and your mean, old fashioned ways.”
“So be it. You are no daughter of mine.”
* * * *
“Spock, forgive me. I’ve been a fool”
“No, you haven’t. Everything you have done was for a noble reason. There is no reason to apologize for something so true to yourself.”
Jim looked up, found he could not handle the force of that intense stare, looked away. “I’m your brother; you need to say stuff like that.”
“It is true that you are my brother. But more than that, you are my friend. I have been, and always shall be, yours,” he answered. “And as your friend, I tell you that you have done nothing to be ashamed of.”
“Yeah, if you say so.” Jim lapsed into silence. “I was never engaged to the Kobayashi Maru,” he said suddenly. “So no matter how dishonorable you may think the test, it has broken no promise to me.”
“Jim, you cannot compare your conduct to his!”
“No, but I compare it to what it should have been,” he answered, “I compare it to yours.” And he enveloped his brother in a manly hug.
Chatper Eighteen