Unification - Jeri Taylor [84]
It was clear that’s what Picard should say. But he did not.
“The reason for my coming here has never been more clear, Captain,” Spock continued. “The union of the Romulan and Vulcan peoples will not be achieved by politics. Or by diplomacy. But it will be achieved.”
Spock moved away from him, pacing restlessly, formulating his thoughts. Picard’s mind flashed back to their first meeting in the other caves, in what seemed a lifetime ago. The two men had been instantly in conflict, each of them stubbornly maintaining his position and assuming the other would back down.
Had that been only a few days ago?
“The answer has been here in front of us all the time,” Spock went on. “An inexorable evolution toward a Vulcan philosphy has already begun. Like the first Vulcans, these people are struggling to find a new enlightenment. It may take decades, even centuries, for them to reach it. But they will. And I must help.”
Picard studied the grave face, the penetrating eyes. “I have learned,” he said finally, “that it is useless to argue with you once your mind is set.”
“Not at all, Captain,” retorted Spock. “I have in fact found our arguments quite useful. Almost as useful as those I had with my father.”
Picard paused only briefly before he suggested, “Would you be surprised to learn that he found them equally valuable?”
Another long moment, and Picard could only imagine what was going on inside Spock’s mind, but when he spoke, it was in the voice of a man who has achieved resolution. “Ironically, Captain, you may have known Sarek better than his own son did. My father and I never chose to meld.”
And in that simple statement there lay a lifetime’s relationship, of love felt and not expressed, of hurt and anger and pride, of arguments, accusations, of good deeds and mishaps, a century of tangled experiences and emotions never acknowledged. Therein lay the tragedy of Spock and his father.
Picard did not hesitate. “I would offer you the chance to touch what he shared with me.”
Spock nodded, and extended his hand toward Picard’s face. The strong, supple fingers pressed on his cheek, and once again Picard felt the wondrous blending of two spirits. His mind whirled, emotions reeled in tumultuous cacophony; images of his father, of rain-swept vineyards and sunny fields, of Spock and Sarek through all the times of tortured love they felt for each other, the strife and agony—all tumbled within him, joining, blending, transforming one into the other. It was overpowering, it was unbearable, the heightened sensations too vivid, too intense …. Ancient planets… French meadows ripe in yellow sunlight… Amanda giving birth… bitter cold… mechanized violation of the body and mind… fury … red mountains and withering deserts… the fa-tal bravery of a loyal pet… Perrin, Perrin, aching need… the aspiration to go forth …. What more is out there? What adventures yet remain?… Stars streaking, blurred… longing… sons and fathers … fathers and sons…
He stared into Spock’s eyes, and Spock into his. Anguish bled away, serenity prevailed. Unification.
Table of Contents
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
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty