Crossover - Michael Jan Friedman [36]
“However,” Spock explained, “your proposition contains a contradiction, Skrasis. The principles of Surak are based on personal choice and an avoidance of violence. One cannot accept these principles and condone the use of violence to spread them.”
The youth wasn’t ready to relent. Not yet. “But the use of force in this case would serve the greater good. As you have also taught us, the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. Or the one.”
The Teacher should have been appalled to hear his own words used to defend such unethical practices. Yet he was pleased.
Clearly Skrasis had internalized Spock’s lessons. Even when he did not quite believe his own position, he held it out for inspection anyway—no matter how harsh a scrutiny it was likely to receive.
And that was the essence of Surak’s legacy.
The Vulcan eyed his student. “Even if we assume the Vulcan way would be superior for all sentient creatures, surely there would be those who would resist, those who would not submit no matter what the price.”
Skrasis said nothing.
“Presumably,” Spock continued, “these individuals would have to be eliminated.”
The youth shrugged. “In the beginning, perhaps. But the greater good would still be served. Imagine a galaxy governed by intellect, pure logic. A galaxy without war, or crime, or senseless violence.”
The Vulcan tilted his head, demonstrating his skepticism. “Except for that violence perpetrated by the administrators of this superior system.”
“But in the end,” Skrasis persisted, “you would have a generation of beings who knew nothing but the way of logic. Ultimately the need for all violence would disappear.”
The other Romulans assembled there had long ago become spectators, watching the Teacher and his young student in their verbal confrontation. Now, they were all looking at Spock for his answer.
“What you propose,” the Vulcan said, “has been tried many times in history. One example of it would be the Romulan Empire itself.”
Obviously, this was something that Skrasis had not considered. The youth’s face betrayed his surprise.
Spock went on. “Like many empires great and small before it, the Romulan Star Empire believed it had a superior system. From its earliest days, violence was used to firmly establish its power and to maintain loyalty to the state. And more than one generation grew to maturity knowing nothing else. Yet, as we can see, unrest persists.
“Insurrection. Purges. These are clearly a part of the fabric of Romulan society. And still, there are those who risk death simply for the knowledge of another way of life. Many of them are in this room. Many more are outside, in the courtyard.”
The Vulcan could see Skrasis absorbing the new information, turning the idea over in his mind.
“Surak teaches us to find order in chaos,” Spock pointed out. “He does not teach us to try to eliminate chaos or impose order onto it. And the reasons are not simply ethical, because a complex system—whether a biological entity, or a society, or even a language—must remain diverse. It must remain open to change or it will die.”
He took in all his listeners at a glance. “Infinite diversity in infinite combination is at the heart of Surak’s philosophy. An ordered galactic civilization, even if such a thing were possible, would fail to thrive. And inevitably, it would decay.”
For the first time since Spock had encountered Skrasis, the youth was completely and utterly silent, lost in the thoughts the Vulcan had planted. Allowing this silence to linger, Spock found himself actually looking forward to Skrasis’s reaction.
In the end, however, the silence was broken not by Skrasis, but by Belan, The older man entered hastily, apologizing for the intrusion.
“Teacher,” he said, “a word with you on an important issue?”
The Vulcan nodded his assent.
“A group of us has given our situation careful thought,” Belan informed him, “and though we are honored by your instruction, we have chosen a