Spock/Uhura New Year's Present: For Linstock!
Recipient: linstock
Present Giver: ghiri_mai
Story Name: Transformations.
Moving.
Whirling.
Music flowed over him, flowed around him like an intoxicating mist. The Shuuvasu musicians played on, as uninhibited as he, reveling in an art as old as Vulcankind. And best of all, Nyota was with him, in his mind, and he in hers, fully joined.
I.
Spock retreated to the assigned quarters he shared with Nyota on Starbase Fifty-four. The apartment was large, with luxurious furniture and décor, neither classic nor contemporary, featuring the blandness deemed appropriate in a diplomat’s or senior officer’s temporary living space.
He considered stepping out onto the balcony. The solar system’s star, a white dwarf, produced beautiful sunsets when its light combined with the clouds and atmospheric dust particles. But he realized the time of day. Children would fill the park and their voices would make their way to the upper levels. There was no peace in that direction.
Instead he sat in one of the cushioned chairs in the room adjacent to the balcony, his tall frame sinking easily into the rich, blue upholstery. He resisted the urge to bring the tips of his fingers together. The time was not appropriate for meditation. Several more hours must pass before he began his nightly ritual. Relief would come with time. He sighed. He did not care for his current assignment at all, however illogical such a sentiment might be.
Over two standard weeks ago, the commanding officer of Starbase Fifty-four had sent out an emergency call for a computer specialist rated at least A7. Commander Spock of the USS Enterprise was the only qualified person within five standard days travel. After a very convincing plea from the base commander (with a little pressure from Starfleet brass), Captain Kirk volunteered Spock’s services. This proved very inconvenient as Spock had several critical experiments progressing in the ship’s science labs. Fortunately his subordinates could handle them during his absence. Even so, Kirk should not be so free with his senior officers’ time.
At least Nyota had accompanied him, though Spock suspected Kirk’s offer of “well- deserved shore leave” was an attempt to mollify him. His wife’s presence
did make his time here more tenable. The Enterprise had dropped them off twelve standard days earlier and continued on to her next scheduled destination. She would return after two more days to retrieve them.
The computer issue that brought him to the base proved to be a true challenge. Someone had inserted a valit into the system. Valitlar, named after a small animal native to the original planet Vulcan, were tools of an expert. Like their animal namesake, the programs tunneled past daunting security protocols and into sensitive data cores. There they could do any manner of things depending one the desires of the programmer: steal information, create unauthorized access points, or destroy the system files. This particular valit was a destroyer; it had damaged over seventy-eight percent of the base’s computing capacity, compromising Starfleet’s local sector operations.
It had taken Spock 4.27 standard days to isolate the virtual menace. As soon as he had accomplished that, he began rebuilding the starbase’s software systems, line by line. He had completed the bulk of the work yesterday and thought it safe to leave the rest in the hands of the resident computer personnel. Understandably, the base commanding officer now wanted him to devote his last few days to improving computer security and finding the author of the valit.
Starbase Fifty-four’s computer security issues were straightforward. The valit was not. While named after a Vulcan animal, any intelligent being could write computer valitlar. After studying this particular program, Spock ruled out a Vulcan programmer. Each sentient race’s thought and language patterns were reflected in their computer programming. As an instructor in xenolinguistics, he recognized those patterns. The culprit was not Vulcan, Human, Andorian, Tellarite, or any of several other Federation member races. With time he would identify the culprit’s home world if not the individual.
The assignment would almost be enjoyable if it were not for the working environment. Too many civilians, people without the discipline installed into Starfleet personnel, filled the base. Of necessity, Spock worked with them, but with little enthusiasm. The primary contractor assisting him, one Mr. Walen Orake, was, unfortunately, a human with a high sensitivity to Vulcan telepathy.
While most people thought of telepaths as mind readers, some species were also senders. Vulcans emitted low-level telepathic signals, forming what some neuroscientists called a “group mind”. Vulcans themselves disputed the notion, but they did admit to somehow knowing when a large group of their fellows had been seriously injured or killed. The death of six billion Vulcans sent what remained of the people reeling and most survivors required weeks to fully recover.
Approximately thirty-nine percent of Humans reacted adversely to Vulcan telepathic signals and often became irritable in the presence of Vulcans. Very
soon after First Contact, Vulcans discovered the reason why some Humans reacted in an irrational, almost hostile way to their kind. Knowing this, Vulcans who worked a great deal with Humans learned to lower their telepathic output to a level acceptable to all but the most sensitive Humans. This improved Vulcan-Human relations, but placed extra stress on Vulcans.
As the son of a diplomat, Spock learned to consciously control his baseline telepathy at an early age. His father had planned for him to follow the family’s tradition of diplomatic service after making an intellectual contribution to the Vulcan Science Academy. Sarek never thought Spock would use the skill in the service of Starfleet.
Walen Orake was extremely sensitive. During the times he shared space with Spock, he was a disagreeable sort, raising tension in the entire division. Spock would have requested another computer technologist, but Orake knew the computer systems best. Bringing in another person would only slow things down, so Spock suffered through it and made cause to spend as little time in Orake’s company as possible. The effects of Vulcan telepathic projection on Humans were not well known and Spock had no desire to enlighten anyone.
He had considered contacting his father on the matter. During his years as the Vulcan ambassador to Earth, Sarek must have encountered sensitive Humans. However, Spock had some reluctance. Even though their disagreement over his choice of career had resolved itself after their home world’s destruction, Sarek was not above the occasional icy comment about Starfleet. Such would not be helpful in the current situation.
Nyota entered the apartment. She crossed from the entryway to him in a few steps, excitement in every movement.
While technically on shore leave, Nyota had expressed no interest in being idle while her husband worked sixteen-hour shifts. She had been assisting the starbase communications division with several upgrades.
“Spock!” she smiled. “One of the techs gave me this!” She held a colorful piece of paper in her right hand.
Spock took the proffered item. Paper was an unusual medium for communication. PADDs and similar devices were the norm. It appeared to be an advertisement.
Nyota took the chair across from his, eager for his response.
He skimmed the colorful piece of pressed cellulose and found what sparked his wife’s interest. Printed in bold letters, he read:
APPEARING FOR A LIMITED ENGAGEMENT
EXCLUSIVELY AT ILLYA’S
THE TA’TATARE ENSEMBLE
DIRECT FROM T’KHASI
Ta’tatare. Spock knew that name. The musicians were Shuuvasu Vulcans.
Descended from an ancient Vuhlkansu colony ship lost over two thousand years ago in what would become Klingon space, and recently reunited with their Federation kin, Shuuvasular formed a distinct sub-culture within Vulcan society. Since their ancestors had left Vulcan before the Time of Awakening, they did not follow the path of logic. They expressed their emotions openly and without shame, which ran counter to modern Vuhlkansu norms. Conservative Vuhlkansu elements were, of course, reluctant to accept the Shuuvasular on T’Khasi, but two factors left little choice: the much reduced Vuhlkansu population and the Klingon Empire.
The Shuuvasu people challenged the Empire’s expansion. A hapless Klingon scout ship had stumbled upon their thriving colony world of Shuuvalis a few years earlier and the Shuuvasular quickly reversed the situation. They mastered the technology of the Klingon scout vessel, and then, using telepathy as a weapon, began carving out an empire of their own from the rimward Klingon frontier. The Klingons were not pleased. As they had no means to counter telepathy, and suspecting the culprits to be some sort of rogue Vulcan group, the Empire eventually enlisted the Federation’s aid in solving the problem.
The Federation interceded with the Shuuvasular, persuading them to surrender their short-lived foray into empire building. The Shuuvasu people, proud creators of a two millennia-old culture, were reluctant to leave their beloved home world for a life in the unknown, but yielded to the reality of brutal Klingon retribution. After a vigorous debate about the effects of over one million v’tosh ka’tur on the traumatized Vuhlkansu population and the true meaning of IDIC, the Ruling Council of T’Khasi decided that all Vulcans regardless of their origin had the right to live on the Vulcan colony.
The fears of Shuuvasular being the wild-eyed, pre-Awakening monsters of legend proved unfounded. In truth they were a peaceful people. The Klingons’ attempt to conquer them had provoked them, bringing the infamous Vulcan rage to the fore. True to their Vulcan warrior heritage, they responded with violence and aggression. But when the Federation representatives approached them from a position of peace, their response was quite different.
Like Surak, they knew the dangers of unchecked negative emotions and found their own means to deal with the call of the powerful emotions of the Inner
Chorus: the Three-Fold Way. The philosophical underpinning of Shuuvasu society, the Three-Fold Way balanced occupation, warriorship, and creative artistry into a productive whole to build a culture on a world far from home. While different from logic, the discipline needed to maintain competency in three areas on a daily basis was impressive. As Nyota had described it, Shuuvasular were “hyperactive workaholics” too busy for stray emotions to disrupt their lives.
Spock placed the paper on the small circular table situated between himself and Nyota. He looked at her.
“A night of excellent music will do both of us good,” she said. Her eyes were filled with concern as well as excitement. She knew his current work environment stressed him.
He could not deny the logic of her statement. Suppressing his natural telepathy to such a degree also weakened his telepathic bond with his wife. Many of the subtle ways they used to communicate had ceased since he started working with Orake. Now, the only time they were in full harmony was when they touched.
He missed her.
Some time spent in the company of Shuuvasu musicians would provide relief for both of them. Spock also knew Nyota had an intellectual interest in Shuuvasular. She had made an in-depth study of the relationships of the Shuuvasu dialects to Vuhlkansu and Rihanesu. Her research, recently published in the form of a monograph, had received much acclaim among her fellow xenolinguistic specialists. Spock, quite proud of his wife’s work, kept an old-fashioned, hard-bound copy on his personal bookshelf along with the volumes his mother had sent him many years earlier.
He gave Nyota a slight smile, then stood. “We should inquire about reservations,” he said as he walked towards the room’s computer console. Considering the expense of transporting musicians from T’Khasi to Starbase Fifty-four, he doubted the event was free.
Nyota smiled at him. No further comment was needed.
II.
They arrived ninety minutes before the night’s scheduled performance so they could order their evening meal. Spock had dressed in matching black jacket and trousers accompanied by a deep burgundy shirt with gold trim purchased at a local men’s clothing store. As he had not planned on attending any non-work
related activities, he had not packed any formal civilian attire. The suit was conservative enough to serve him in the future and so was not a waste of funds.
Nyota had also gone shopping. Tonight she wore a sleeveless dress of deep violet with a narrow waist and a knee-length flared skirt. A matching pashmina shawl covered her shoulders while gold earrings inlaid with amethyst hung from her delicate earlobes. Black mid-high heels completed her outfit. Her hair, worn loose, flowed behind her like ebony silk.
Through the muted, reddish-gold lighting inside Illya’s, Spock saw walls paneled in richly burnished wood trimmed with gold accents. Chandeliers of stained glass illuminated the spacious interior. Numerous circular tables covered with heavy white linen cloths and formal place settings filled most of the visible space, the balance being occupied by a raised performance platform set along the far wall. A rectangle of parquet flooring was set in the thick carpeting before it. Spock raised an eyebrow. He had been to enough Human functions to recognize a dance floor. He did not recall dancing listed as an activity in the advertisement.
He and Nyota approached the host at his small wooden desk.
“Reservation for two, name S’chn T’gai”, Spock said. The Human seemed unperturbed at the sight of the mixed couple. Spock approved. The training of the staff matched the décor.
“This way please, sir and madam,” said the host, leading Spock and Nyota to their table. Spock had reserved a location with both prime viewing and listening at the front, near the performance area. Many of the tables they passed were already occupied. Humans formed the majority, but Caitians, Betazoids, Andorians, and Tellarites were also present. . Spock was the only Vulcan in the restaurant, which was not surprising. Vulcan numbers were too low for them to have a major interstellar presence.
At their table the host pulled out a chair for Nyota and presented her a menu; Spock sat opposite her and accepted his own. “Your waiter will be with you shortly to take your orders,” he said before returning to his station.
The menus were as interesting as the advertisement. Set in stout, dark linen jackets, the heavyweight ivory paper was smooth to the touch. Words in Terran calligraphy covered the pages. Spock glanced at Nyota, who grinned back at him. Most dining establishments used video-based menus for easy updates. During travels with his parents, he had dined in restaurants throughout the Federation. Some places, such as this one, attempted to distinguish themselves from others by unusual accessories like these menus.
Spock resumed reading, seeking out vegan dishes. The dearth of Vulcan offerings was expected. His people’s cuisine, highly underappreciated, rarely
appeared on menus in restaurants that catered to a wide variety of sentient races. Only two appeared, plomeek soup and Vulcan mocha, ubiquitous items on Federation menus everywhere.
“t’pi-maat,” suggest Nyota, looking up from her menu.
He understood her meaning. “Of the family.” Vulcans, a family-oriented people, did not serve food on individual plates, but placed large bowls and platters of food on the table. Diners would take as much or as little of each item as they desired with the exception of children, whose parents assisted them in selecting appropriate quantities of food. Using this traditional method, both he and Nyota would order one or two entrées or appetizers each and share them. They would take any remaining food home for later consumption.
The waiter seemed surprised at the number of items they ordered, but made no comment as he filled their gold-rimmed water goblets. While they waited for their food to arrive, the couple chatted about Shuuvasu culture and compared several of the Shuuvasu dialects to ancient Vuhlkansu.
##
At precisely nineteen hundred hours, the musicians entered onto the stage. The artists were typical of their ethnic group with the standard Vulcan physiognomy of pointed ears and upswept eyebrows. Features unique to the Shuuvasular included medium-brown skin with golden undertones and long black hair pulled into a topknot on the crowns of their heads. All had dressed in the formal clan attire of deep crimson robes with golden trim. Beads of carnelian and yellow jade strung on fine gev silk cords hung from the base of each musician’s dark knot of hair.
They carried their instruments with great care, reflecting how they valued their craft. Spock knew first hand how exquisite Shuuvasu-made musical instruments were. He owned a ka’athaira made from kin-ralash wood, a gift from Ha’taun and his son Ha’tan of Clan Hs’mayatta. The Shuuvasu warriors had presented the instrument to him some time ago, during the Enterprise’s expedition to Shuuvalis. Spock had made such a favorable impression on them that they took him into their family.
The musicians, all male and of various ages, sat on thick beige cushions arranged in a semicircle on the performance stage. Spock recognized the instruments, especially the ones developed by the Shuuvasular such as the ki’haf-pilakh, pasu-pilakh, and vluhn t’rarav. He had heard all before during that mission to Shuuvalis, but regrettably, not since. The sounds they produced delighted his ears.
Once the musicians had settled themselves, a Human male, middle-aged, with longish blond hair, walked to the center of the dance floor. He was dressed in dark formal wear, his face full of excitement.
“Gentle beings, welcome to Illya’s!” He bowed, his blond hair shining in the lights, and continued in his quiet, slightly accented voice, “Tonight we host the Clan Ta’tatare from the world of T’Khasi.” He gestured towards the platform as the crowd applauded politely, a Human custom common throughout the Federation.
“They will delight both your ears … and your feet.” Illya smiled at the floor.
Spock refrained from raising an eyebrow. Adult Vuhlkansular never danced to music or otherwise. But these were Shuuvasular, who had a distinct, millennia-old culture. They sometimes enjoyed dancing on special occasions or in artistic duels.
An older musician, a ka’athaira player, spotted Nyota and Spock sitting at the front row table. He sent the briefest of telepathic brushes in a traditional greeting. With his control so high, Spock almost missed it. Because their telepathic senses were much more highly developed than Vuhlkansulars’, Shuuvasular often did not speak greetings. Many preferred a light mind-to-mind touch in acknowledgement of another’s presence. The custom was unusual, but logical in its own way. Courtesy did not have to rely on line of sight.
Tha’taren t’Ta-tatare, he sent in in way of introduction.
Spock returned an equally respectful greeting. S’chn T’gai Spock t’Talek-sen-deen and wife Nyota.
Illya bowed and moved into the background. The Shuuvasular began to play.
Sounds flowed through the room, enhanced by the outstanding acoustics. It was the same quality of music as he had heard on Shuuvalis during the Time of Celebration, the time when the Shuuvasu people reaffirmed who they were. He had been enthralled then. He was enthralled now. Their music touched the Vulcan soul, the katra.
Spock savored the music, concentrating on each note played. In time, the other patrons began dancing to the rich, complex melodies and rhythms of the traditional songs. The sounds of their movement on the dance floor travelled to his ears, but he filtered them out. He heard Shuuvasu music too infrequently to allow such distractions to mar this experience.
He felt the light touch of Nyota’s hand on his, felt her thoughts. Spock turned his full attention to her and saw the suggestive look in her eyes.
She wanted to dance.
Spock wanted to frown, to refuse her. Music was for contemplation, not exercise. But Nyota was Human and the musicians were Shuuvasular….
They would dance.
He led his wife to the parquet floor. While some of the couples gave them surprised looks, most made space for them. Spock understood the stares. Vulcans did not usually dance in public, though he had attended “balls” during his time as a Starfleet instructor. He was quite familiar with formal Terran dancing.
He and Nyota moved at a pace comparable to the others. When the current song began its final movements, Spock felt the soft telepathic brush again. He glanced at Tha’taren and nodded his permission for telepathic contact.
You dance well in the Terransu-style, he sent. Can you dance like a Vulcan?
Confused, Spock made full eye contact with him. Vulcan? Only Vulcan children danced….
Spock realized Tha’taren meant “like a Shuuvasu Vulcan”. He lowered his mental shields and sent a query.
Tam t’kun-ut, replied the ka’athaira player with a hint of a mental smile.
When the motions of the current dance brought the ensemble back into his direct line of sight, he saw the entire group watching him even as they played their instruments. They obviously had been having a telepathic conversation about him and Nyota.
A challenge had subtly been issued, and the Shuuvasu were curious to see if he were up to it, something for which the males were notorious. They tested the mettle of a stranger to see if he was worth dealing with. If the musicians had been Human males, he would have dismissed them. But one did not so easily dismiss fellow Vulcans. He had earned the respect of one Shuuvasu clan. Was it time to earn the respect of another?
Please elaborate, he sent.
Tha’taren smiled slightly. A test of your marriage bond for all to see. He then sent Spock detailed instructions.
Spock considered. A public display? That seemed rather vulgar for the People of the Three-Fold Way. Shuuvasular were known for their sophisticated martial
and creative arts, not wild dances. But Spock thought of another key aspect of their culture: telepathy. Shuuvasular were among the strongest telepaths in the Federation. Some surpassed Aenar in capability. Of course outwards signs of telepathy would be important to them.
The song was almost over. He needed to give Tha’taren an answer. Would Nyota agree? Most likely. As a student of the Shuuvasular, she would be intrigued.
The actual decision lay with him. This dance did not seem very Vulcan…. Incorrect. Not very Vuhlkansu. Shuuvasular were as Vulcan as anyone from the original T’Khasi. Unlike the Rihanesular, they had never renounced their Vulcan heritage. Another factor lay in his current mental state. The strain of muting his telepathic nature was wearing. His overall performance remained unaffected, but he did not know for how much longer. Some “down time” with his mind fully open would be beneficial, perhaps therapeutic for him.
Spock quickly asked Nyota through skin-to-skin contact and received the expected reply. Yes!
We agree, he sent to the leader of the ensemble. The Shuuvasu grinned, then passed the news to the others. In the interim, Spock passed the instructions to Nyota.
Absolutely no contact? sent Nyota through his palm.
No contact, confirmed Spock.
Should be a challenge, she sent with a wave of affection.
Indeed. He had fully opened his mind to her, a feeling he had missed for too many days.
Spock suddenly realized the true nature of the tam t’kun-ut. Far from a vulgar display, the dance tested a couple’s devotion to each other. Many Shuuvasu customs were similar, always bearing an elegant purpose hidden inside.
The current song came to its end and the ensemble did not begin another. Thinking the performance over, the patrons returned to their seats.
All except Spock and Nyota.
He guided Nyota to the center of the dance floor. Many of the patrons looked at the pair in puzzlement. Spock noticed Illya back on stage, whispering with the musicians, perhaps asking about the truncated performance. The leader indicated Spock and Nyota on the dance floor. Illya nodded and left the platform.
A fast drumbeat with an alternating rhythm began. Spock kept his focus on Nyota standing before him. They needed to be ready for the start signal. Success meant keeping up with the music as well as each other.
There, that chord from the pasu-pilakh…. And the two of them began moving. Hands held behind backs to prevent touch telepathy, Spock and Nyota circled each other like stars around a common center of gravity. Then on unspoken signals, they moved away from each other towards the opposite ends of the parquet rectangle, spinning in opposite directions. Spock saw Nyota’s unbound hair flow outward as her dress flared and rippled…. He pushed back such thoughts from his mind. He must concentrate on the bond between them, not what she wore. They must mirror each other to the rapid pace of plucked strings of ki’haf-pilakh and pasu-pilakh. Spock felt Nyota trying to keep her excitement under control as she matched him movement for movement as they spun inward, back to that unseen center of gravity between them.
The signal for the next segment sounded from the vluhn t’rarav….
He faced Nyota for a fraction of a second, then brought his arms up in front of him, elbows bent, palms up. A very tempting position from which to touch …. He moved his arms, elbows still bent, to the right, palms facing each other. Now the footwork began…
He began the formal steps of the tam t’kun-ut, following the musical leader’s instructions. Nyota mirrored him admirably. As the dance progressed, he became aware of the physical demands it placed on the dancers. Spock felt it in himself. He felt it in Nyota.
I can stay with you for as long as needed, she sent.
The clarity of her mental voice exhilarated him. Yes, it had been too long without her in his mind and soul. He wanted to send a wave of affection towards her, but such could wait. The dance was not over yet.
They began to circle one another again. Their hands shifted to the other side as they reversed direction. A sharp chord signaled the final phase, then the couple again spun from the center of the floor to the opposing ends and back again. The drummer once again began to dominate the music, his vluhn t’rarav marking the final beats that signaled the end of both song and dance.
Spock’s eyes locked with Nyota’s, and they stopped all movement.
Well, done S’chn T’gai Spock t’Talek-sen-deen. Kinsman Ha’tan’s praise of you is well deserved, sent Tha’taren..
He looked at the Shuuvasu and remembered. Clan Ta’tatare allied itself with Clan Hs’mayatta. Ha’tan t’Hs’mayatta’s brother-in-law belonged to the musicians’ clan. He almost smiled, but his reverie was broken by loud applause. The other patrons, forgotten during the speed of the dance. Spock, unsure of how to respond, turned his attention to Nyota. Should they acknowledge the onlookers, people who had never seen a Vulcan dance?
Nyota touched his hand. Our quarters, she suggested.
Spock thought her idea logical. He … felt … good. Staying here, even with Shuuvasu music, would distract from that.
Yes, he agreed. He gave his telepathic thanks to each member of the ensemble. In turn, he received congratulations from them. As they left for their temporary home, Spock forgot the packaged remains of their dinner.
III.
Nyota relaxed, content in her husband’s embrace, head resting on one of his powerful arms. It was a favored position after love-making. And this night’s loving seemed better than most, perhaps the best yet. Her mind linked to Spock’s in a way unknown to her. Like in the dance…. Yes, the dance. That Shuuvasu dance.
Tam t’kun-ut. The dance of marriage. Being connected in a way unknown to her. To a depth unknown to her. She knew of Vulcan telepathy. Everyone in the Federation did. Married to a Vulcan, she experienced it on a daily basis. A form of communication deeper, more intimate than any Human couple could imagine. And tonight she learned that even deeper levels existed. Even more intimacy.
She wanted to know more. She wanted to know why Spock had held back before. She turned her entire body in his arms in order to face him.
Spock slept the sleep of a fully satiated male, his breathing regular and deep. Nyota knew that he would not wake for hours.
She could not wait.
“Spock,” she said softly. He did not stir.
She tickled his exposed ear with the tip of a finger, causing him to flinch.
“Spock,” she said again. In the dim lighting of their bedroom, she felt more than saw his irritated expression, even though Vulcans never admitted to such an emotion.
The male Vulcan grunted, then opened his dark eyes. “Nyota, what is it?” his voice full of grogginess.
A twinge of guilt moved through her. This might have been his first good night’s sleep in several days. Suppressing his natural telepathy for almost two weeks did have an affect on his rest patterns.
“Tonight, the tam t’kun-ut,” she said.
“What of it?” he asked.
Nyota came to the point, a habit both of them valued. “Why haven’t you shared yourself with me like that before this night?”
##
Spock struggled through layers of sleep. Nyota wanted something. Something concerning the tam t’kun-ut. He pushed the disorientation from his mind and looked at her, his keen Vulcan eyesight allowing him to see her face in the dim light provided by the room’s window.
“Why haven’t you shared yourself with me like that before this night?” she asked.
Shared? He always shared with her. Confused he said, “I do share with you through our marriage. Our telepathic connection.” He thought that answered her question.
“Not like tonight,” she responded. “I felt you…. I don’t know how to truly describe it. I…really felt you during that dance. We were one, much more so than ever before. We truly moved as one.”
Spock began to understand. The depth of the telepathic connection he had forged between them for the tam t’kun-ut was much stronger than their regular one. Being conscious of the Human desire for a unique self, Spock had moved only so far into Nyota’s mind, even after their marriage.
A different situation existed among Vuhlkansular. The inherent telepathy of his father’s people connected Vulcans in a way unknown to Humans. The closest equivalent among his mother’s people lay in the bond between identical siblings. Humankind’s strong sense of self presented as something strange to Spock when he first arrived at Starfleet Academy. And Humans guarded their identities
jealously if the attitudes of his Human roommates served as a guide. They wanted nothing to do with “Vulcan mind tricks”.
While Nyota was his wife and confidant, he was always careful about her mental boundaries. They communicated at a level he thought appropriate for a Vulcan/Human couple. His only example had been his parents and he found it…disturbing to think of his parents in that manner. They would find their own way in their marriage.
The tam t’kun-ut had shown Nyota that much deeper contact existed, contact that blurred the boundaries between two minds. Was her interest only curiosity or did she desire to continue the experience?
“I meant to respect your mental sense of self, your Human uniqueness,” he said. “Constant deep telepathic contact may merge to separate minds into one.”
“You mean our two personalities would become one?” Nyota sounded incredulous.
“On rare occasions, Vuhlkansu couples linked by deep melding become one in all things they experience. I do not know the effects on Humans,” Spock said.
##
Nyota blinked. Two becoming one? She had no idea of the true strength of Vulcan telepathy. Few Humans probably did, Spock’s people being a closed-mouth bunch.
She considered the implications. Her daily interactions with Spock amazed her. Sensing him in her mind (annoyingly muted during their time on the starbase) and of course the sex with all of that skin-to-skin contact…. But merged minds? Would she like that? Would she still be Nyota Uhura, or become Nyota-Spock and he Spock-Nyota?
He said he wanted to respect her Humanity, but that hinted at something missing in their marriage, something uniquely Vulcan.
“Spock, I want to try it,” she said.
“Are you certain, adun’a,” Spock inquired, concern in his voice.
Nyota smiled at her husband. “Yes!”
“Very well,” he said. I shall contact Ha’tan tomorrow to locate an Adept of Plat. I doubt if any Vuhlkansu masters survived Nero’s attack.”
She nodded in agreement. Vuhlkansular skilled the psionic arts rarely left their home world. Shuuvasu Adepts now filled those roles.
“Until then…,” he said as he lifted his free arm and placed the fingers of his left hand on her right temple, “this will serve .”
Nyota fell silent as she felt their minds moved together as one.
IV.
The next morning, Spock sat at the desk in his temporary office. Reading his PADD, he saw he was nearly done with the report on the new security upgrades. He also needed to complete his analysis of the valit. He noted his co-workers in the division furtively glancing at him, but he paid little heed to them. Just another Human quirk.
“Commander.”
Spock looked up from his work and saw that the face matched the voice. Orake. His telepathic controls firmly in place, Spock said, “Yes, Mr. Orake.”
“Er, I didn’t know Vulcans could dance,” the Human said in an unsure voice.
Spock regarded the Human with a curious look. Why would Orake be interested in dancing Vulcans? “Yes, we are physically able to do so,” he replied blandly.
“I heard you and your wife had a wild time at Illya’s last night.”
Raising an eyebrow, Spock studied the man. Wild time? “My wife and I engaged in culturally appropriate dancing, Mr. Orake.” His tone indicated that he did not care to discuss the matter any further.
##
Late afternoon sunlight from the white dwarf sun streamed into the common room of Clan Ta’tatare’s luxury suite. A scented brown pillar candle burned on an end table, releasing the pleasant fragrance of ta’raa flower oil. Spock relaxed on one of the room’s overstuffed couches, Nyota beside him. Plates of Shuuvasu foods graced the low coffee table in front of them.
Their host, Tha’taren, leader of the Shuuvasu ensemble, sat opposite them. Intrigued to meet a Vuhlkansu/Human couple he had only heard about through relatives, he sent an invitation for them to join his family for a light repast before that evening’s performance.
Spock and Nyota were pleased to accept, especially Spock. Like the warrior poets of Earth legend, the Shuuvasular had achieved what many Vuhlkansular said was impossible: a tempering of Vulcan emotion, not with logic, but with art and hard work.
A young Shuuvasu male entered the room, a tray of food in his hand. He placed the tray on the coffee table next to the others, then joined his brothers on a third couch. Everyone, except Spock and Nyota, were dressed in the dark gray, calf-length wrap-around tunics of everyday wear. The two Starfleet officers were in standard uniform.
“Please enjoy yourselves.” Tha’taren gestured to the food trays. They were full of pressed nut bars, dried and fresh fruits, and small treats that resembled Terran fruitcakes. Since the Shuuvasular would not eat until the guests helped themselves, Spock began. He selected one of the small fruitcakes while Nyota tried a nut bar. Once they had made their selections, the musicians eagerly joined them in the meal.
Spock knew that Shuuvasular did not share the Vuhlkansu avoidance of handling food with their hands. He was a little awkward using only a napkin, but he managed to enjoy the snack.
“Do not worry. We have plenty. Our relations feared that Mr. Kuryakin would serve us a diet of replicated porridge,” said Tha’taren with a chuckle.
The others, including, Nyota joined him in expressing their amusement, which Spock experienced fully through their new telepathic bond.
“I would think that anyone who could afford your travel expenses could also provide suitable food,” observed Spock.
“Plus, he and his wife own a restaurant,” quipped Nyota.
“Very true,” said Tha’taren. “The food has been excellent.”
“Yes,” added one of Tha’taren’s sons, the player of the vluhn t’rarav.
Spock glanced at him, and then at the others. They were all related. Tha’taren was the eldest, the father of two sons. The other five were his nephews. They had played together as a group before the Shuuvasular migrated from Klingon space to the Federation and had decided to remain together.
The Kuryakins happened to attend an impromptu concert while visiting T’Khasi. Entranced by the music, they had managed to talk one of the groups, Tha’taren’s, into performing offworld with all expenses paid. The group was
skeptical about travelling, but the clan elders convinced them of the good will value. Other members of their immediate families, wives, daughters, and sisters, eschewed the offer of travel, preferring to stay home. While skilled musicians in their own right, they were not members of that particular group and expressed no interest in visiting a military base. They might have thought differently if the performance venue had been on a planet such as Earth or Andoria, places rich in history and art.
Tha’taren finished eating a small bar composed of dried sehlat’s delight fruit, and then said, “Your performance of the tam t’kun-ut was impressive for beginners.”
Spock was about to nod in acknowledgement when Tha’taren continued.
“There are eight more levels,” he said.
Nyota smiled. “Eight more?”
Spock felt her excitement at the idea of a further exploration of Shuuvasu culture and joined her mental anticipation.
##
The Enterprise arrived two hours ahead of the time estimated. After giving the base commander his final reports and recommendations, Spock joined Nyota to beam up to the starship. Both Kirk and McCoy were present to greet them. Kirk’s presence was understandable. It was logical for the captain to acknowledge their return. McCoy’s presence, however, was superfluous. Neither he nor Nyota had reported any illness.
“Welcome aboard, you two,” said Kirk.
Spock became wary when he saw the expression on Kirk’s and McCoy’s faces. Especially McCoy’s face. That expression often preceded annoying emotional episodes. Nyota, a very astute reader of Human emotions, sent a mental agreement.
“The base commander very pleased with both of you,” began Kirk. “And I also hear that you two have acquired new titles.”
“Titles, Captain?” said Spock. He looked at Nyota, and saw the beginnings of a wry smile.
“Yes,” grinned Kirk, exchanging a glance with the doctor.
McCoy swept into an old-fashioned bow. “Greetings, Lord and Lady of the Dance.”
Finis
Glossary -- Most of the Vulcan words come from either the Vulcan Language Institute or the Vulcan Language Dictionary. A few (gev and ta’raa) are Shuuvasu.
Gev - an insectoid domesticated to produce silk.
Ka’athaira - the traditional Vulcan lyre.
Ki’haf-pilakh - “basket-string”; a plucked stringed instrument that resembles a kora.
Kin-ralash - a yellow hardwood native to Shuuvalis favored for musical instruments.
Pasu-pilakh - “table-string”; a plucked stringed instrument that resembles a zither.
Rihanesu/lar - the Vulcan ethnic group comprised of refugees from the Romulan Star Empire.
Shuuvasu/lar - the Vulcan ethnic group descended from the crew and colonists of the lost ship Shuuvalis; know for their warrior-poet philosophy called the Three-Fold Way.
t’Pi-maat - “of the family”, family -style.
T’Khasi - the native name for Vulcan, both the original and colony world.
Tam t’kun-ut - “dance of marriage”; a traditional test of the marriage bond by Shuuvasular.
Ta’raa - a fragrant flower native to Shuuvalis.
Terransu - Terran.
Valit/lar - a small, burrowing animal native to the hot, dry plains of the original planet Vulcan; a computer program designed to evade security protocols.
Vluhn t’rarav - a goblet-style drum of Shuuvasu make.
Vuhlkansu/lar - the Vulcan ethnic group comprised of the surviving citizens of Vulcan; known for their philosophy of logic and non-violence.
Vulcan - the term for any Federation citizen who is also a citizen of T’Khasi.
Present Giver: ghiri_mai
Story Name: Transformations.
Moving.
Whirling.
Music flowed over him, flowed around him like an intoxicating mist. The Shuuvasu musicians played on, as uninhibited as he, reveling in an art as old as Vulcankind. And best of all, Nyota was with him, in his mind, and he in hers, fully joined.
I.
Spock retreated to the assigned quarters he shared with Nyota on Starbase Fifty-four. The apartment was large, with luxurious furniture and décor, neither classic nor contemporary, featuring the blandness deemed appropriate in a diplomat’s or senior officer’s temporary living space.
He considered stepping out onto the balcony. The solar system’s star, a white dwarf, produced beautiful sunsets when its light combined with the clouds and atmospheric dust particles. But he realized the time of day. Children would fill the park and their voices would make their way to the upper levels. There was no peace in that direction.
Instead he sat in one of the cushioned chairs in the room adjacent to the balcony, his tall frame sinking easily into the rich, blue upholstery. He resisted the urge to bring the tips of his fingers together. The time was not appropriate for meditation. Several more hours must pass before he began his nightly ritual. Relief would come with time. He sighed. He did not care for his current assignment at all, however illogical such a sentiment might be.
Over two standard weeks ago, the commanding officer of Starbase Fifty-four had sent out an emergency call for a computer specialist rated at least A7. Commander Spock of the USS Enterprise was the only qualified person within five standard days travel. After a very convincing plea from the base commander (with a little pressure from Starfleet brass), Captain Kirk volunteered Spock’s services. This proved very inconvenient as Spock had several critical experiments progressing in the ship’s science labs. Fortunately his subordinates could handle them during his absence. Even so, Kirk should not be so free with his senior officers’ time.
At least Nyota had accompanied him, though Spock suspected Kirk’s offer of “well- deserved shore leave” was an attempt to mollify him. His wife’s presence
did make his time here more tenable. The Enterprise had dropped them off twelve standard days earlier and continued on to her next scheduled destination. She would return after two more days to retrieve them.
The computer issue that brought him to the base proved to be a true challenge. Someone had inserted a valit into the system. Valitlar, named after a small animal native to the original planet Vulcan, were tools of an expert. Like their animal namesake, the programs tunneled past daunting security protocols and into sensitive data cores. There they could do any manner of things depending one the desires of the programmer: steal information, create unauthorized access points, or destroy the system files. This particular valit was a destroyer; it had damaged over seventy-eight percent of the base’s computing capacity, compromising Starfleet’s local sector operations.
It had taken Spock 4.27 standard days to isolate the virtual menace. As soon as he had accomplished that, he began rebuilding the starbase’s software systems, line by line. He had completed the bulk of the work yesterday and thought it safe to leave the rest in the hands of the resident computer personnel. Understandably, the base commanding officer now wanted him to devote his last few days to improving computer security and finding the author of the valit.
Starbase Fifty-four’s computer security issues were straightforward. The valit was not. While named after a Vulcan animal, any intelligent being could write computer valitlar. After studying this particular program, Spock ruled out a Vulcan programmer. Each sentient race’s thought and language patterns were reflected in their computer programming. As an instructor in xenolinguistics, he recognized those patterns. The culprit was not Vulcan, Human, Andorian, Tellarite, or any of several other Federation member races. With time he would identify the culprit’s home world if not the individual.
The assignment would almost be enjoyable if it were not for the working environment. Too many civilians, people without the discipline installed into Starfleet personnel, filled the base. Of necessity, Spock worked with them, but with little enthusiasm. The primary contractor assisting him, one Mr. Walen Orake, was, unfortunately, a human with a high sensitivity to Vulcan telepathy.
While most people thought of telepaths as mind readers, some species were also senders. Vulcans emitted low-level telepathic signals, forming what some neuroscientists called a “group mind”. Vulcans themselves disputed the notion, but they did admit to somehow knowing when a large group of their fellows had been seriously injured or killed. The death of six billion Vulcans sent what remained of the people reeling and most survivors required weeks to fully recover.
Approximately thirty-nine percent of Humans reacted adversely to Vulcan telepathic signals and often became irritable in the presence of Vulcans. Very
soon after First Contact, Vulcans discovered the reason why some Humans reacted in an irrational, almost hostile way to their kind. Knowing this, Vulcans who worked a great deal with Humans learned to lower their telepathic output to a level acceptable to all but the most sensitive Humans. This improved Vulcan-Human relations, but placed extra stress on Vulcans.
As the son of a diplomat, Spock learned to consciously control his baseline telepathy at an early age. His father had planned for him to follow the family’s tradition of diplomatic service after making an intellectual contribution to the Vulcan Science Academy. Sarek never thought Spock would use the skill in the service of Starfleet.
Walen Orake was extremely sensitive. During the times he shared space with Spock, he was a disagreeable sort, raising tension in the entire division. Spock would have requested another computer technologist, but Orake knew the computer systems best. Bringing in another person would only slow things down, so Spock suffered through it and made cause to spend as little time in Orake’s company as possible. The effects of Vulcan telepathic projection on Humans were not well known and Spock had no desire to enlighten anyone.
He had considered contacting his father on the matter. During his years as the Vulcan ambassador to Earth, Sarek must have encountered sensitive Humans. However, Spock had some reluctance. Even though their disagreement over his choice of career had resolved itself after their home world’s destruction, Sarek was not above the occasional icy comment about Starfleet. Such would not be helpful in the current situation.
Nyota entered the apartment. She crossed from the entryway to him in a few steps, excitement in every movement.
While technically on shore leave, Nyota had expressed no interest in being idle while her husband worked sixteen-hour shifts. She had been assisting the starbase communications division with several upgrades.
“Spock!” she smiled. “One of the techs gave me this!” She held a colorful piece of paper in her right hand.
Spock took the proffered item. Paper was an unusual medium for communication. PADDs and similar devices were the norm. It appeared to be an advertisement.
Nyota took the chair across from his, eager for his response.
He skimmed the colorful piece of pressed cellulose and found what sparked his wife’s interest. Printed in bold letters, he read:
APPEARING FOR A LIMITED ENGAGEMENT
EXCLUSIVELY AT ILLYA’S
THE TA’TATARE ENSEMBLE
DIRECT FROM T’KHASI
Ta’tatare. Spock knew that name. The musicians were Shuuvasu Vulcans.
Descended from an ancient Vuhlkansu colony ship lost over two thousand years ago in what would become Klingon space, and recently reunited with their Federation kin, Shuuvasular formed a distinct sub-culture within Vulcan society. Since their ancestors had left Vulcan before the Time of Awakening, they did not follow the path of logic. They expressed their emotions openly and without shame, which ran counter to modern Vuhlkansu norms. Conservative Vuhlkansu elements were, of course, reluctant to accept the Shuuvasular on T’Khasi, but two factors left little choice: the much reduced Vuhlkansu population and the Klingon Empire.
The Shuuvasu people challenged the Empire’s expansion. A hapless Klingon scout ship had stumbled upon their thriving colony world of Shuuvalis a few years earlier and the Shuuvasular quickly reversed the situation. They mastered the technology of the Klingon scout vessel, and then, using telepathy as a weapon, began carving out an empire of their own from the rimward Klingon frontier. The Klingons were not pleased. As they had no means to counter telepathy, and suspecting the culprits to be some sort of rogue Vulcan group, the Empire eventually enlisted the Federation’s aid in solving the problem.
The Federation interceded with the Shuuvasular, persuading them to surrender their short-lived foray into empire building. The Shuuvasu people, proud creators of a two millennia-old culture, were reluctant to leave their beloved home world for a life in the unknown, but yielded to the reality of brutal Klingon retribution. After a vigorous debate about the effects of over one million v’tosh ka’tur on the traumatized Vuhlkansu population and the true meaning of IDIC, the Ruling Council of T’Khasi decided that all Vulcans regardless of their origin had the right to live on the Vulcan colony.
The fears of Shuuvasular being the wild-eyed, pre-Awakening monsters of legend proved unfounded. In truth they were a peaceful people. The Klingons’ attempt to conquer them had provoked them, bringing the infamous Vulcan rage to the fore. True to their Vulcan warrior heritage, they responded with violence and aggression. But when the Federation representatives approached them from a position of peace, their response was quite different.
Like Surak, they knew the dangers of unchecked negative emotions and found their own means to deal with the call of the powerful emotions of the Inner
Chorus: the Three-Fold Way. The philosophical underpinning of Shuuvasu society, the Three-Fold Way balanced occupation, warriorship, and creative artistry into a productive whole to build a culture on a world far from home. While different from logic, the discipline needed to maintain competency in three areas on a daily basis was impressive. As Nyota had described it, Shuuvasular were “hyperactive workaholics” too busy for stray emotions to disrupt their lives.
Spock placed the paper on the small circular table situated between himself and Nyota. He looked at her.
“A night of excellent music will do both of us good,” she said. Her eyes were filled with concern as well as excitement. She knew his current work environment stressed him.
He could not deny the logic of her statement. Suppressing his natural telepathy to such a degree also weakened his telepathic bond with his wife. Many of the subtle ways they used to communicate had ceased since he started working with Orake. Now, the only time they were in full harmony was when they touched.
He missed her.
Some time spent in the company of Shuuvasu musicians would provide relief for both of them. Spock also knew Nyota had an intellectual interest in Shuuvasular. She had made an in-depth study of the relationships of the Shuuvasu dialects to Vuhlkansu and Rihanesu. Her research, recently published in the form of a monograph, had received much acclaim among her fellow xenolinguistic specialists. Spock, quite proud of his wife’s work, kept an old-fashioned, hard-bound copy on his personal bookshelf along with the volumes his mother had sent him many years earlier.
He gave Nyota a slight smile, then stood. “We should inquire about reservations,” he said as he walked towards the room’s computer console. Considering the expense of transporting musicians from T’Khasi to Starbase Fifty-four, he doubted the event was free.
Nyota smiled at him. No further comment was needed.
II.
They arrived ninety minutes before the night’s scheduled performance so they could order their evening meal. Spock had dressed in matching black jacket and trousers accompanied by a deep burgundy shirt with gold trim purchased at a local men’s clothing store. As he had not planned on attending any non-work
related activities, he had not packed any formal civilian attire. The suit was conservative enough to serve him in the future and so was not a waste of funds.
Nyota had also gone shopping. Tonight she wore a sleeveless dress of deep violet with a narrow waist and a knee-length flared skirt. A matching pashmina shawl covered her shoulders while gold earrings inlaid with amethyst hung from her delicate earlobes. Black mid-high heels completed her outfit. Her hair, worn loose, flowed behind her like ebony silk.
Through the muted, reddish-gold lighting inside Illya’s, Spock saw walls paneled in richly burnished wood trimmed with gold accents. Chandeliers of stained glass illuminated the spacious interior. Numerous circular tables covered with heavy white linen cloths and formal place settings filled most of the visible space, the balance being occupied by a raised performance platform set along the far wall. A rectangle of parquet flooring was set in the thick carpeting before it. Spock raised an eyebrow. He had been to enough Human functions to recognize a dance floor. He did not recall dancing listed as an activity in the advertisement.
He and Nyota approached the host at his small wooden desk.
“Reservation for two, name S’chn T’gai”, Spock said. The Human seemed unperturbed at the sight of the mixed couple. Spock approved. The training of the staff matched the décor.
“This way please, sir and madam,” said the host, leading Spock and Nyota to their table. Spock had reserved a location with both prime viewing and listening at the front, near the performance area. Many of the tables they passed were already occupied. Humans formed the majority, but Caitians, Betazoids, Andorians, and Tellarites were also present. . Spock was the only Vulcan in the restaurant, which was not surprising. Vulcan numbers were too low for them to have a major interstellar presence.
At their table the host pulled out a chair for Nyota and presented her a menu; Spock sat opposite her and accepted his own. “Your waiter will be with you shortly to take your orders,” he said before returning to his station.
The menus were as interesting as the advertisement. Set in stout, dark linen jackets, the heavyweight ivory paper was smooth to the touch. Words in Terran calligraphy covered the pages. Spock glanced at Nyota, who grinned back at him. Most dining establishments used video-based menus for easy updates. During travels with his parents, he had dined in restaurants throughout the Federation. Some places, such as this one, attempted to distinguish themselves from others by unusual accessories like these menus.
Spock resumed reading, seeking out vegan dishes. The dearth of Vulcan offerings was expected. His people’s cuisine, highly underappreciated, rarely
appeared on menus in restaurants that catered to a wide variety of sentient races. Only two appeared, plomeek soup and Vulcan mocha, ubiquitous items on Federation menus everywhere.
“t’pi-maat,” suggest Nyota, looking up from her menu.
He understood her meaning. “Of the family.” Vulcans, a family-oriented people, did not serve food on individual plates, but placed large bowls and platters of food on the table. Diners would take as much or as little of each item as they desired with the exception of children, whose parents assisted them in selecting appropriate quantities of food. Using this traditional method, both he and Nyota would order one or two entrées or appetizers each and share them. They would take any remaining food home for later consumption.
The waiter seemed surprised at the number of items they ordered, but made no comment as he filled their gold-rimmed water goblets. While they waited for their food to arrive, the couple chatted about Shuuvasu culture and compared several of the Shuuvasu dialects to ancient Vuhlkansu.
##
At precisely nineteen hundred hours, the musicians entered onto the stage. The artists were typical of their ethnic group with the standard Vulcan physiognomy of pointed ears and upswept eyebrows. Features unique to the Shuuvasular included medium-brown skin with golden undertones and long black hair pulled into a topknot on the crowns of their heads. All had dressed in the formal clan attire of deep crimson robes with golden trim. Beads of carnelian and yellow jade strung on fine gev silk cords hung from the base of each musician’s dark knot of hair.
They carried their instruments with great care, reflecting how they valued their craft. Spock knew first hand how exquisite Shuuvasu-made musical instruments were. He owned a ka’athaira made from kin-ralash wood, a gift from Ha’taun and his son Ha’tan of Clan Hs’mayatta. The Shuuvasu warriors had presented the instrument to him some time ago, during the Enterprise’s expedition to Shuuvalis. Spock had made such a favorable impression on them that they took him into their family.
The musicians, all male and of various ages, sat on thick beige cushions arranged in a semicircle on the performance stage. Spock recognized the instruments, especially the ones developed by the Shuuvasular such as the ki’haf-pilakh, pasu-pilakh, and vluhn t’rarav. He had heard all before during that mission to Shuuvalis, but regrettably, not since. The sounds they produced delighted his ears.
Once the musicians had settled themselves, a Human male, middle-aged, with longish blond hair, walked to the center of the dance floor. He was dressed in dark formal wear, his face full of excitement.
“Gentle beings, welcome to Illya’s!” He bowed, his blond hair shining in the lights, and continued in his quiet, slightly accented voice, “Tonight we host the Clan Ta’tatare from the world of T’Khasi.” He gestured towards the platform as the crowd applauded politely, a Human custom common throughout the Federation.
“They will delight both your ears … and your feet.” Illya smiled at the floor.
Spock refrained from raising an eyebrow. Adult Vuhlkansular never danced to music or otherwise. But these were Shuuvasular, who had a distinct, millennia-old culture. They sometimes enjoyed dancing on special occasions or in artistic duels.
An older musician, a ka’athaira player, spotted Nyota and Spock sitting at the front row table. He sent the briefest of telepathic brushes in a traditional greeting. With his control so high, Spock almost missed it. Because their telepathic senses were much more highly developed than Vuhlkansulars’, Shuuvasular often did not speak greetings. Many preferred a light mind-to-mind touch in acknowledgement of another’s presence. The custom was unusual, but logical in its own way. Courtesy did not have to rely on line of sight.
Tha’taren t’Ta-tatare, he sent in in way of introduction.
Spock returned an equally respectful greeting. S’chn T’gai Spock t’Talek-sen-deen and wife Nyota.
Illya bowed and moved into the background. The Shuuvasular began to play.
Sounds flowed through the room, enhanced by the outstanding acoustics. It was the same quality of music as he had heard on Shuuvalis during the Time of Celebration, the time when the Shuuvasu people reaffirmed who they were. He had been enthralled then. He was enthralled now. Their music touched the Vulcan soul, the katra.
Spock savored the music, concentrating on each note played. In time, the other patrons began dancing to the rich, complex melodies and rhythms of the traditional songs. The sounds of their movement on the dance floor travelled to his ears, but he filtered them out. He heard Shuuvasu music too infrequently to allow such distractions to mar this experience.
He felt the light touch of Nyota’s hand on his, felt her thoughts. Spock turned his full attention to her and saw the suggestive look in her eyes.
She wanted to dance.
Spock wanted to frown, to refuse her. Music was for contemplation, not exercise. But Nyota was Human and the musicians were Shuuvasular….
They would dance.
He led his wife to the parquet floor. While some of the couples gave them surprised looks, most made space for them. Spock understood the stares. Vulcans did not usually dance in public, though he had attended “balls” during his time as a Starfleet instructor. He was quite familiar with formal Terran dancing.
He and Nyota moved at a pace comparable to the others. When the current song began its final movements, Spock felt the soft telepathic brush again. He glanced at Tha’taren and nodded his permission for telepathic contact.
You dance well in the Terransu-style, he sent. Can you dance like a Vulcan?
Confused, Spock made full eye contact with him. Vulcan? Only Vulcan children danced….
Spock realized Tha’taren meant “like a Shuuvasu Vulcan”. He lowered his mental shields and sent a query.
Tam t’kun-ut, replied the ka’athaira player with a hint of a mental smile.
When the motions of the current dance brought the ensemble back into his direct line of sight, he saw the entire group watching him even as they played their instruments. They obviously had been having a telepathic conversation about him and Nyota.
A challenge had subtly been issued, and the Shuuvasu were curious to see if he were up to it, something for which the males were notorious. They tested the mettle of a stranger to see if he was worth dealing with. If the musicians had been Human males, he would have dismissed them. But one did not so easily dismiss fellow Vulcans. He had earned the respect of one Shuuvasu clan. Was it time to earn the respect of another?
Please elaborate, he sent.
Tha’taren smiled slightly. A test of your marriage bond for all to see. He then sent Spock detailed instructions.
Spock considered. A public display? That seemed rather vulgar for the People of the Three-Fold Way. Shuuvasular were known for their sophisticated martial
and creative arts, not wild dances. But Spock thought of another key aspect of their culture: telepathy. Shuuvasular were among the strongest telepaths in the Federation. Some surpassed Aenar in capability. Of course outwards signs of telepathy would be important to them.
The song was almost over. He needed to give Tha’taren an answer. Would Nyota agree? Most likely. As a student of the Shuuvasular, she would be intrigued.
The actual decision lay with him. This dance did not seem very Vulcan…. Incorrect. Not very Vuhlkansu. Shuuvasular were as Vulcan as anyone from the original T’Khasi. Unlike the Rihanesular, they had never renounced their Vulcan heritage. Another factor lay in his current mental state. The strain of muting his telepathic nature was wearing. His overall performance remained unaffected, but he did not know for how much longer. Some “down time” with his mind fully open would be beneficial, perhaps therapeutic for him.
Spock quickly asked Nyota through skin-to-skin contact and received the expected reply. Yes!
We agree, he sent to the leader of the ensemble. The Shuuvasu grinned, then passed the news to the others. In the interim, Spock passed the instructions to Nyota.
Absolutely no contact? sent Nyota through his palm.
No contact, confirmed Spock.
Should be a challenge, she sent with a wave of affection.
Indeed. He had fully opened his mind to her, a feeling he had missed for too many days.
Spock suddenly realized the true nature of the tam t’kun-ut. Far from a vulgar display, the dance tested a couple’s devotion to each other. Many Shuuvasu customs were similar, always bearing an elegant purpose hidden inside.
The current song came to its end and the ensemble did not begin another. Thinking the performance over, the patrons returned to their seats.
All except Spock and Nyota.
He guided Nyota to the center of the dance floor. Many of the patrons looked at the pair in puzzlement. Spock noticed Illya back on stage, whispering with the musicians, perhaps asking about the truncated performance. The leader indicated Spock and Nyota on the dance floor. Illya nodded and left the platform.
A fast drumbeat with an alternating rhythm began. Spock kept his focus on Nyota standing before him. They needed to be ready for the start signal. Success meant keeping up with the music as well as each other.
There, that chord from the pasu-pilakh…. And the two of them began moving. Hands held behind backs to prevent touch telepathy, Spock and Nyota circled each other like stars around a common center of gravity. Then on unspoken signals, they moved away from each other towards the opposite ends of the parquet rectangle, spinning in opposite directions. Spock saw Nyota’s unbound hair flow outward as her dress flared and rippled…. He pushed back such thoughts from his mind. He must concentrate on the bond between them, not what she wore. They must mirror each other to the rapid pace of plucked strings of ki’haf-pilakh and pasu-pilakh. Spock felt Nyota trying to keep her excitement under control as she matched him movement for movement as they spun inward, back to that unseen center of gravity between them.
The signal for the next segment sounded from the vluhn t’rarav….
He faced Nyota for a fraction of a second, then brought his arms up in front of him, elbows bent, palms up. A very tempting position from which to touch …. He moved his arms, elbows still bent, to the right, palms facing each other. Now the footwork began…
He began the formal steps of the tam t’kun-ut, following the musical leader’s instructions. Nyota mirrored him admirably. As the dance progressed, he became aware of the physical demands it placed on the dancers. Spock felt it in himself. He felt it in Nyota.
I can stay with you for as long as needed, she sent.
The clarity of her mental voice exhilarated him. Yes, it had been too long without her in his mind and soul. He wanted to send a wave of affection towards her, but such could wait. The dance was not over yet.
They began to circle one another again. Their hands shifted to the other side as they reversed direction. A sharp chord signaled the final phase, then the couple again spun from the center of the floor to the opposing ends and back again. The drummer once again began to dominate the music, his vluhn t’rarav marking the final beats that signaled the end of both song and dance.
Spock’s eyes locked with Nyota’s, and they stopped all movement.
Well, done S’chn T’gai Spock t’Talek-sen-deen. Kinsman Ha’tan’s praise of you is well deserved, sent Tha’taren..
He looked at the Shuuvasu and remembered. Clan Ta’tatare allied itself with Clan Hs’mayatta. Ha’tan t’Hs’mayatta’s brother-in-law belonged to the musicians’ clan. He almost smiled, but his reverie was broken by loud applause. The other patrons, forgotten during the speed of the dance. Spock, unsure of how to respond, turned his attention to Nyota. Should they acknowledge the onlookers, people who had never seen a Vulcan dance?
Nyota touched his hand. Our quarters, she suggested.
Spock thought her idea logical. He … felt … good. Staying here, even with Shuuvasu music, would distract from that.
Yes, he agreed. He gave his telepathic thanks to each member of the ensemble. In turn, he received congratulations from them. As they left for their temporary home, Spock forgot the packaged remains of their dinner.
III.
Nyota relaxed, content in her husband’s embrace, head resting on one of his powerful arms. It was a favored position after love-making. And this night’s loving seemed better than most, perhaps the best yet. Her mind linked to Spock’s in a way unknown to her. Like in the dance…. Yes, the dance. That Shuuvasu dance.
Tam t’kun-ut. The dance of marriage. Being connected in a way unknown to her. To a depth unknown to her. She knew of Vulcan telepathy. Everyone in the Federation did. Married to a Vulcan, she experienced it on a daily basis. A form of communication deeper, more intimate than any Human couple could imagine. And tonight she learned that even deeper levels existed. Even more intimacy.
She wanted to know more. She wanted to know why Spock had held back before. She turned her entire body in his arms in order to face him.
Spock slept the sleep of a fully satiated male, his breathing regular and deep. Nyota knew that he would not wake for hours.
She could not wait.
“Spock,” she said softly. He did not stir.
She tickled his exposed ear with the tip of a finger, causing him to flinch.
“Spock,” she said again. In the dim lighting of their bedroom, she felt more than saw his irritated expression, even though Vulcans never admitted to such an emotion.
The male Vulcan grunted, then opened his dark eyes. “Nyota, what is it?” his voice full of grogginess.
A twinge of guilt moved through her. This might have been his first good night’s sleep in several days. Suppressing his natural telepathy for almost two weeks did have an affect on his rest patterns.
“Tonight, the tam t’kun-ut,” she said.
“What of it?” he asked.
Nyota came to the point, a habit both of them valued. “Why haven’t you shared yourself with me like that before this night?”
##
Spock struggled through layers of sleep. Nyota wanted something. Something concerning the tam t’kun-ut. He pushed the disorientation from his mind and looked at her, his keen Vulcan eyesight allowing him to see her face in the dim light provided by the room’s window.
“Why haven’t you shared yourself with me like that before this night?” she asked.
Shared? He always shared with her. Confused he said, “I do share with you through our marriage. Our telepathic connection.” He thought that answered her question.
“Not like tonight,” she responded. “I felt you…. I don’t know how to truly describe it. I…really felt you during that dance. We were one, much more so than ever before. We truly moved as one.”
Spock began to understand. The depth of the telepathic connection he had forged between them for the tam t’kun-ut was much stronger than their regular one. Being conscious of the Human desire for a unique self, Spock had moved only so far into Nyota’s mind, even after their marriage.
A different situation existed among Vuhlkansular. The inherent telepathy of his father’s people connected Vulcans in a way unknown to Humans. The closest equivalent among his mother’s people lay in the bond between identical siblings. Humankind’s strong sense of self presented as something strange to Spock when he first arrived at Starfleet Academy. And Humans guarded their identities
jealously if the attitudes of his Human roommates served as a guide. They wanted nothing to do with “Vulcan mind tricks”.
While Nyota was his wife and confidant, he was always careful about her mental boundaries. They communicated at a level he thought appropriate for a Vulcan/Human couple. His only example had been his parents and he found it…disturbing to think of his parents in that manner. They would find their own way in their marriage.
The tam t’kun-ut had shown Nyota that much deeper contact existed, contact that blurred the boundaries between two minds. Was her interest only curiosity or did she desire to continue the experience?
“I meant to respect your mental sense of self, your Human uniqueness,” he said. “Constant deep telepathic contact may merge to separate minds into one.”
“You mean our two personalities would become one?” Nyota sounded incredulous.
“On rare occasions, Vuhlkansu couples linked by deep melding become one in all things they experience. I do not know the effects on Humans,” Spock said.
##
Nyota blinked. Two becoming one? She had no idea of the true strength of Vulcan telepathy. Few Humans probably did, Spock’s people being a closed-mouth bunch.
She considered the implications. Her daily interactions with Spock amazed her. Sensing him in her mind (annoyingly muted during their time on the starbase) and of course the sex with all of that skin-to-skin contact…. But merged minds? Would she like that? Would she still be Nyota Uhura, or become Nyota-Spock and he Spock-Nyota?
He said he wanted to respect her Humanity, but that hinted at something missing in their marriage, something uniquely Vulcan.
“Spock, I want to try it,” she said.
“Are you certain, adun’a,” Spock inquired, concern in his voice.
Nyota smiled at her husband. “Yes!”
“Very well,” he said. I shall contact Ha’tan tomorrow to locate an Adept of Plat. I doubt if any Vuhlkansu masters survived Nero’s attack.”
She nodded in agreement. Vuhlkansular skilled the psionic arts rarely left their home world. Shuuvasu Adepts now filled those roles.
“Until then…,” he said as he lifted his free arm and placed the fingers of his left hand on her right temple, “this will serve .”
Nyota fell silent as she felt their minds moved together as one.
IV.
The next morning, Spock sat at the desk in his temporary office. Reading his PADD, he saw he was nearly done with the report on the new security upgrades. He also needed to complete his analysis of the valit. He noted his co-workers in the division furtively glancing at him, but he paid little heed to them. Just another Human quirk.
“Commander.”
Spock looked up from his work and saw that the face matched the voice. Orake. His telepathic controls firmly in place, Spock said, “Yes, Mr. Orake.”
“Er, I didn’t know Vulcans could dance,” the Human said in an unsure voice.
Spock regarded the Human with a curious look. Why would Orake be interested in dancing Vulcans? “Yes, we are physically able to do so,” he replied blandly.
“I heard you and your wife had a wild time at Illya’s last night.”
Raising an eyebrow, Spock studied the man. Wild time? “My wife and I engaged in culturally appropriate dancing, Mr. Orake.” His tone indicated that he did not care to discuss the matter any further.
##
Late afternoon sunlight from the white dwarf sun streamed into the common room of Clan Ta’tatare’s luxury suite. A scented brown pillar candle burned on an end table, releasing the pleasant fragrance of ta’raa flower oil. Spock relaxed on one of the room’s overstuffed couches, Nyota beside him. Plates of Shuuvasu foods graced the low coffee table in front of them.
Their host, Tha’taren, leader of the Shuuvasu ensemble, sat opposite them. Intrigued to meet a Vuhlkansu/Human couple he had only heard about through relatives, he sent an invitation for them to join his family for a light repast before that evening’s performance.
Spock and Nyota were pleased to accept, especially Spock. Like the warrior poets of Earth legend, the Shuuvasular had achieved what many Vuhlkansular said was impossible: a tempering of Vulcan emotion, not with logic, but with art and hard work.
A young Shuuvasu male entered the room, a tray of food in his hand. He placed the tray on the coffee table next to the others, then joined his brothers on a third couch. Everyone, except Spock and Nyota, were dressed in the dark gray, calf-length wrap-around tunics of everyday wear. The two Starfleet officers were in standard uniform.
“Please enjoy yourselves.” Tha’taren gestured to the food trays. They were full of pressed nut bars, dried and fresh fruits, and small treats that resembled Terran fruitcakes. Since the Shuuvasular would not eat until the guests helped themselves, Spock began. He selected one of the small fruitcakes while Nyota tried a nut bar. Once they had made their selections, the musicians eagerly joined them in the meal.
Spock knew that Shuuvasular did not share the Vuhlkansu avoidance of handling food with their hands. He was a little awkward using only a napkin, but he managed to enjoy the snack.
“Do not worry. We have plenty. Our relations feared that Mr. Kuryakin would serve us a diet of replicated porridge,” said Tha’taren with a chuckle.
The others, including, Nyota joined him in expressing their amusement, which Spock experienced fully through their new telepathic bond.
“I would think that anyone who could afford your travel expenses could also provide suitable food,” observed Spock.
“Plus, he and his wife own a restaurant,” quipped Nyota.
“Very true,” said Tha’taren. “The food has been excellent.”
“Yes,” added one of Tha’taren’s sons, the player of the vluhn t’rarav.
Spock glanced at him, and then at the others. They were all related. Tha’taren was the eldest, the father of two sons. The other five were his nephews. They had played together as a group before the Shuuvasular migrated from Klingon space to the Federation and had decided to remain together.
The Kuryakins happened to attend an impromptu concert while visiting T’Khasi. Entranced by the music, they had managed to talk one of the groups, Tha’taren’s, into performing offworld with all expenses paid. The group was
skeptical about travelling, but the clan elders convinced them of the good will value. Other members of their immediate families, wives, daughters, and sisters, eschewed the offer of travel, preferring to stay home. While skilled musicians in their own right, they were not members of that particular group and expressed no interest in visiting a military base. They might have thought differently if the performance venue had been on a planet such as Earth or Andoria, places rich in history and art.
Tha’taren finished eating a small bar composed of dried sehlat’s delight fruit, and then said, “Your performance of the tam t’kun-ut was impressive for beginners.”
Spock was about to nod in acknowledgement when Tha’taren continued.
“There are eight more levels,” he said.
Nyota smiled. “Eight more?”
Spock felt her excitement at the idea of a further exploration of Shuuvasu culture and joined her mental anticipation.
##
The Enterprise arrived two hours ahead of the time estimated. After giving the base commander his final reports and recommendations, Spock joined Nyota to beam up to the starship. Both Kirk and McCoy were present to greet them. Kirk’s presence was understandable. It was logical for the captain to acknowledge their return. McCoy’s presence, however, was superfluous. Neither he nor Nyota had reported any illness.
“Welcome aboard, you two,” said Kirk.
Spock became wary when he saw the expression on Kirk’s and McCoy’s faces. Especially McCoy’s face. That expression often preceded annoying emotional episodes. Nyota, a very astute reader of Human emotions, sent a mental agreement.
“The base commander very pleased with both of you,” began Kirk. “And I also hear that you two have acquired new titles.”
“Titles, Captain?” said Spock. He looked at Nyota, and saw the beginnings of a wry smile.
“Yes,” grinned Kirk, exchanging a glance with the doctor.
McCoy swept into an old-fashioned bow. “Greetings, Lord and Lady of the Dance.”
Finis
Glossary -- Most of the Vulcan words come from either the Vulcan Language Institute or the Vulcan Language Dictionary. A few (gev and ta’raa) are Shuuvasu.
Gev - an insectoid domesticated to produce silk.
Ka’athaira - the traditional Vulcan lyre.
Ki’haf-pilakh - “basket-string”; a plucked stringed instrument that resembles a kora.
Kin-ralash - a yellow hardwood native to Shuuvalis favored for musical instruments.
Pasu-pilakh - “table-string”; a plucked stringed instrument that resembles a zither.
Rihanesu/lar - the Vulcan ethnic group comprised of refugees from the Romulan Star Empire.
Shuuvasu/lar - the Vulcan ethnic group descended from the crew and colonists of the lost ship Shuuvalis; know for their warrior-poet philosophy called the Three-Fold Way.
t’Pi-maat - “of the family”, family -style.
T’Khasi - the native name for Vulcan, both the original and colony world.
Tam t’kun-ut - “dance of marriage”; a traditional test of the marriage bond by Shuuvasular.
Ta’raa - a fragrant flower native to Shuuvalis.
Terransu - Terran.
Valit/lar - a small, burrowing animal native to the hot, dry plains of the original planet Vulcan; a computer program designed to evade security protocols.
Vluhn t’rarav - a goblet-style drum of Shuuvasu make.
Vuhlkansu/lar - the Vulcan ethnic group comprised of the surviving citizens of Vulcan; known for their philosophy of logic and non-violence.
Vulcan - the term for any Federation citizen who is also a citizen of T’Khasi.