Shadowtime ... ( pt. 3 )

[T'aral 0]

While much of the Comanche Creek's crew sought out the more festive locations within the New Topeka colony, T'Aral made a point of seeking a remote location for the start of her recuperative stay. The hotel she took her room at was in the middle of an agriculture district, and was used periodically by farmers and commodities brokers. This was the off-season for those meetings, so the hotel was all but deserted.

 

For two days T'Aral meditated continuously to settle her emotions. She had a sound basis for seeking such peace: much of the events she was dealing with was out of her ability to control. Those events she could control tended to be reactions to extreme situations. This did not mean she couldn't expect better of herself - only that a lack of experience meant that less than perfect responses could be expected. It was good to review her activities from a logical point of view in order to improve, but berating herself or second guessing the past was pointless. The past was the past - emotionalism would not change it.

 

Her meditations granted T'Aral a certain amount of stability, but peace had eluded her. The Pon Farr continued to intensify, and unfortunately it was worse than T'Aral anticipated. With the destruction of Vulcan, there was no where she was supposed to go in response to the blood fever. There was no progress to be made in any direction, except perhaps to the New Vulcan colony. T'Aral considered this carefully. She could ask for a leave of absence, but that would mean having to explain why. The Pon Farr was deeply personal - explanations would be embarassing on multiple levels. She could abandon her post ... an extreme move to be sure, but possible if conditions rendered her continued service impossible.

 

As she pondered this, there was a chime at her door. T'Aral felt the emotion boil inside her: she had told the staff not to disturb her, and the Comanche Creek would've used her communicator. She didn't know who it was that was at the door, but they had a lot of nerve. T'Aral got up from her meditations and opened the door, only to be caught short at the sight of a tall figure. He was hooded and bore no identifying marks, but T'Aral recognized him instantly.

 

"Steln!"

 

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"I do not mean to question our traditions, but so many other races have successfully incorporated emotional aspects into their personalities - why is it that Vulcans avoid this?"

 

Steln was one of the finest representatives of Vulcan inteligence among those who were studying in Starfleet, and as such it was important that his bond to Vulcan culture was supported. So it was that when others discovered that he was struggling, he was immediately brought to T'Aral for counceling. The young priestess listened intently, neither questioning or judging his observations. He had come to a point of questioning, and those questions needed answers.

 

T'Aral sat calmly, waiting until Steln was finished. "All races are characterized by one or more particular traits. Humans are creative, Andorians are agressive, Klingons are violent, and Tellerites are argumentative. Within all these races, however, is a capacity towards compromise when necessary. Vulcans are stubborn, often beyond the point of reason. It is this stubbornness which, when coupled with strong emotion, nearly destroyed our planet. The Vulcans of the time had opinions which they clung to irrationally. All races have their weaknesses: this is ours.

 

"Surak saw the need to remove emotionalism from Vulcan thought. When replaced with logic, our goal becomes mutual benefit rather than individual desire. Vulcan stubbornness can then be used to press towards mutual benefit, or overcome by rational thought since emotional motives are suppressed."

Steln sat for several minutes in silence, deeply contemplating what T'Aral had said. Finally he looked upwards with a content expression which, on any other species, would've carried a smile. "I understand; I thank you for your insight, and your honesty."

T'Aral poured a cup of tea as Steln left her room. Vulcans rarely admitted shortcomings, even among themselves. T'Aral allowed herself to ponder the illogic of this: too often Vulcans considered their philosophy and society superior to others. This was not the case, and too often the perceived superiority caused difficulty among Vulcans and other races. T'Aral settled into meditation contentedly; Steln was highly inteligent. Accepting the truth she offered him would not only strengthen his bond with the Vulcan way, it would make him more respectful of other species. That could only be to his benefit.

 

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T'Aral had not seen Steln in years. She had lost track of him after he had graduated from the Academy, noted among Vulcans for his unusual sociability - even if he was among the most conservative of his peers when it came to emotions. T'Aral had helped him overcome his challenges; now it seemed he had been sent to her in order to return the gesture.

 

Stepping away from the door, T'Aral gestured widely. "Won't you come in?"

Edited May 2, 2010 by T'aral