Pride and Logic Chapter 21

Nyota let her hand slip from its place on Spock’s arm as they approached the sitting room where Ambassador Sarek awaited them.  She told herself that it was silly to feel nervous about her meeting with Spock’s father. The introduction could not be avoided and she knew of no reason for the ambassador to find fault with her. Nyota had spent a week suffering through the special attention of Lady T’Pau and the hostile barbs of T’Pring. She only had to spend little over a day in the ambassador’s presence before she and her family would set off for Earth. However, such logic did little to quiet her nerves.

Nyota would not let herself acknowledge the true cause of her nervousness. Any hopes she may have begun to harbor regarding the silent half-Vulcan walking beside her were most likely foolish fancies. But, she could not completely dismiss the obvious signs of the growing accord between her and Spock. Even if she could not let herself hope that he would one day renew his addresses, she took comfort that he at least appeared to forgive her for the false charges she had so callously laid at his feet. That Spock could look upon her with a friendly eye was more than she could have hoped for just a few months ago.

As they entered the room Nyota was heartened to find her Uncle Jomo animatedly describing his latest research to Ambassador Sarek. The older Vulcan listened quietly, his posture erect and his face devoid of emotion. The only sign that the Ambassador took any interest in Uncle Jomo’s monologue was his unwavering dark gaze and Lady Amanda’s pleased smile as she looked on.

“Spock. Nyota,” Lady Amanda greeted as she rose from her seat. The ambassador and Nyota’s relatives rose as well.

“Sarek,” Amanda continued, “may I preset Tonya and Jomo’s niece, Nyota Uhura. She is a cadet at Starfleet Academy and a former pupil of our son.”

“Welcome to D'H'riset, Miss Uhura,” the ambassador greeted with an incline of his head. “I trust that your visit to Vulcan has been agreeable thus far.”

“Yes, it has been very enjoyable. Thank you for welcoming us into your home.”

“Any credit for your welcome would be due to my wife. I merely have chosen to extend that welcome as it was logical to do so.”

Nyota blinked.

“Your aunt informs me that you are a student of Federation languages,” Sarek continued.

“Yes, Ambassador. I study xeno-linguistics, among other things. I currently speak 83% of Federation languages with varying degrees of fluency.”

“A worthy accomplishment that will serve you well in your career in the diplomatic corps. It is rare for a human to master even a third of the Federation languages.”

“Thank you, Ambassador. I hope that it will prove just as useful aboard a starship.”

Sarek lifted one brow in a manner that reminded Nyota of his son.

“You are not considering a career in diplomacy? Surely your skill set would be used most efficiently there. “

“I am sure that you are correct. While I respect and admire the work of the diplomatic corps and am aware of the accomplishments of ambassadors such as yourself, a starship linguist could be considered the penultimate diplomat. We are often the first point of contact between the Federation and newly discovered worlds.”

The Ambassador examined Nyota, his cool black eyes assessing before he nodded his head once more.

“Well said Miss Uhura. I concede to your logic.”

Lady Amanda threw Nyota a mischievous smile, her eyes sparkling with mirth.

“I anticipate conversing with you further during the evening meal,” Sarek continued before turning to face the entire party.

“Please excuse me. My journey was more taxing than I anticipated.”

Ambassador Sarek bowed his head before moving towards the door. Nyota frowned and glanced at Spock. Spock stood tall, his hands clasped behind his back as his father passed him without a word or glance.  Spock’s face remained unreadable, but Nyota felt the pain of Sarek’s cut as if Spock had cried out. She made to move towards him before Amanda’s voice stopped her short.

“Sarek, surely you have a moment to greet your son before you retire.”

Sarek stopped his progress but did not turn from the door. A few silent moments passed before Spock spoke.

“I am sure the Ambassador would like to rest, mother. We may converse at another time.”

Sarek exited the room, leaving the party to stand in awkward silence.

“Spock-am, I am sure…”

“If you would please excuse me,” Spock abruptly replied before leaving the room.

Amanda shared an anxious look with the room. “I am sorry. Spock and Sarek did not part company on the best of terms. Sarek never approved of Spock’s enlistment in Starfleet.”

Aunt Tonya moved to her friend’s side and took her hand in hers. “Oh, we all have families full of stubborn men, Amanda. There is no need to explain.”

“Who’s stubborn?” Uncle Jomo protested. “Surely I am not included in that number?”

Aunt Tonya laughed. “Oh, Jomo. You can be the worst offender!”

Uncle Jomo huffed.

“My mother told me not to marry an African man, but I would not listen,” Aunt Tonya continued as if her husband were not in the room. “But who could blame me? How could any woman resist Jomo’s charms?”

“And my dashing good looks,” Uncle Jomo added.

Aunt Tonya released Amanda’s hand and walked to her husband’s side to place a kiss on his cheek.

“Of course, dear.”

Lady Amanda smiled as the Uhura’s shared another chaste kiss.

“Well, I should go see to my stubborn husband,” Amanda said as she made her exit. “I’ll see you all at dinner.”

“And we should start packing for our return trip,” Uncle Jomo announced. “We have to figure out how to make room in our luggage for all those trinkets and dresses you’ve both bought during our stay.”

“Our trinkets? Who was it again that insisted that he just had to have a Vulcan cross bow and lyrette? And three pairs of boots?”

“And those three antique incense pots,” Nyota added.

“Ok. Ok. You’ve made your point,” Uncle Jomo cried as he raised his hands in mock surrender. “Still, we should get our packing done now so that we aren’t in a rush. It is not as if Vulcan is right around the corner should we leave anything behind.”

Spock took his place before the fire pot in his meditation shati. When he was particularly disquieted as a youth, Spock would retreat to this outdoor shelter deep in the wilderness surrounding his ancestral home seeking the serenity of nature and logic.  As soon as he left his mother and the Uhura’s that afternoon, he went to his private rooms, changed into his running briefs and sandals and departed for the five mile run through the brush and hills to this place.

As he sat before the fire, he forced his senses to dull to the feel of the warm wind against his face, to the sound of the distant calls of s’helats roaming in the brush, to the smell of the burnt earth and wooden beams beneath him, to the sight of the red hills around him. Spock breathed in the spiced smoke of the burning stones until he could feel the Vulcan earth vibrate beneath him and through his limbs. Slowly he felt his disappointment over his father’s dismissal dissipate. Spock settled into this temporary serenity like a well-worn pair of boots.

Spock had not expected his father to welcome him warmly into the home, although he had hoped for the acknowledgement due even to strangers. Sarek’s silence confirmed that he still did not sanction Spock’s choice of Starfleet, despite the accomplishments he had made there. To Sarek, Spock’s choice was a rejection of the Vulcan way—of his very heritage. However, Spock never felt himself to be more secure in his Vulcanity than during his time with Starfleet. Being daily surrounded by emotionally undisciplined humans had proven the value of the teachings of Surak. The Surakian disciplines had allowed Spock to achieve an equilibrium that had eluded him on Vulcan. He had not only succeeded in suppressing his emotions, but in achieving a distance that allowed him to experience a new level of tranquility.

However, a short time in the presence of the Cadet had managed to upset this balance with remarkable ease. With a few words and looks, Nyota Uhura managed to chip away the barrier of logic and unearth the lust and possessiveness he had struggled to subdue as a youth. The boyhood fascinations of his youth that led him to soil his bedclothes in the night were nothing compared to what he experienced for the cadet. The base unbridled Vulcan in him wanted to mark her flesh and make her heavy with child. Wanted to serve her, bury his face in her hair and laugh in joy. To his shame, Spock could barely control these urges—he had even committed the low act of composing a song in celebration of her eyes.

Rather than restoring his balance, Miss Uhura’s firm rejection of his suit further disquieted him. With the benefit of a few months’ reflection, Spock came to realize that this was not solely due to Sybok’s lies, but his own wounded pride. The Cadet’s charges of his un-Vulcan like behavior bore the painful sting of truth: his prideful presumption of Vulcan superiority; his pride in his lineage; his disregard for the feelings of others.

Prior to his return to Vulcan, Spock sought to make peace with the reality that Nyota Uhura was lost to him. Yet, her presence here in his home and her easy and open behavior towards him gave him cause to hope again—however illogical that might be.

Spock knew that Sarek would view his pursuit of a human woman as his bondmate to be the final rejection of the Vulcan way, despite his own choice of a human wife. His father had once told him that he married his mother because it was a logical decision. Sarek was the ambassador to Earth and marriage to a human would only aid his mission and allow him to better understand Terran culture. As he was taught that Vulcans who follow Sarek cannot lie, he did not question his father’s statement. Spock could not argue a similarly logical reason for his desire to bond with a human—that indeed was the essential reason. He desired Nyota Uhura. He loved her.

On the otherhand, Spock was confident that Sarek would assist him in breaking his bond with T’Pring. He did not need Sarek’s approval to marry Nyota, but he would need his father’s assistance to dissolve his current bond. Fortunately, Spock possessed a fully logical reason to break his betrothal that his father would support.

Spock rose from his place before the fire pot and pulled out his communicator.

Nyota rose early on what was to be her last full day on Vulcan. She already found herself missing the desert planet and the agreeable people she had met there. Nyota knew that her aunt and uncle would probably still be abed. Desiring to fit as much into her last day as possible, she decided to go for a final swim and borrow Lady Amanda’s flitter to tour the grounds before breakfast. She changed quickly into her bathing suit and a teal linen dress that skimmed her ankles and covered her arms.  She slipped her feet into a pair of sandals, grabbed her bag and made her way from the guest wing. As she reached the top of the stairs leading to the foyer, she was met by Seved.

“Miss Uhura,” the Vulcan greeted as he bowed slightly at the waist. “Lady Amanda and your family are breakfasting in the garden and request your presence.”

Nyota blinked. “I suppose they wanted to get a jump on the day as well,” she replied with a smile.

Seved stared at her blankly.

Nyota laughed and shook her head. “Please take me to them.”

Nyota passed a pleasant breakfast with Amanda and her family. When they learned of her aborted morning plans, they decided to join her and make an afternoon of it ending with a poolside lunch.

“Sarek and Spock won’t be joining us,” Amanda informed them as they climbed aboard her red flitter. They have an important meeting this afternoon.”

“Together? I hope it is nothing unpleasant,” Aunt Tonya replied, no doubt referring to their stony silence the day before.

“Oh, I hope that it will have a very pleasant result,” Amanda said with a smile before winking at Nyota. Nyota shook her head wonderingly and boarded the flitter.

They returned to the house four hours later to rest and prepare for the dinner party that evening. Nyota was surprised to see Selkek leaving the house as they arrived.

“Selkek, well met!” Lady Amanda greeted the Vulcan as he bent his head to receive a motherly kiss to his cheek.

Amanda introduced Selkek to Uncle Jomo and Aunt Tonya who looked upon the animated Vulcan with a small degree of amazement. Nyota shook her head at their astonishment before greeting her friend.

“It is agreeable to see you, Nyota,” Selkek replied with a smile. “I look forward to the dinner this evening. Although I will be sad to say goodbye.”

Nyota smiled. “I am sure that we’ll manage to run into each other again. The dinner is not for another three hours. What brings you here so early?”

“Just a bit of business with the Ambassador,” Selkek replied.

“I hope it went well.” Lady Amanda said as she tapped the side of her nose.

“Everything was handled satisfactorily,” Selkek mysteriously replied.

Lady Amanda smiled. Nyota looked between the curious pair.

“I hope to have the pleasure of hearing you sing tonight,” Selkek said as he turned to Uhura.

Nyota blinked. “I’d be happy to if someone would accompany me.”

“Oh, I am sure that Spock would be happy to play his lyre,” Selkek said.

“Yes. Selkek has told me so much about your singing,” Amanda said excitedly. “It will be just the thing.”

Nyota agreed to the scheme before the party said their farewells.

*********

Dinner had been a surprisingly pleasant affair. The coldness that had once marked Sarek’s interactions with Spock had thawed somewhat. The Ambassador acknowledged Spock’s presence and even dared to address him once or twice. Selkek remained as cordial as ever, keeping Nyota and her family entertained. Selkek’s parents, Tupak and T’Rena spent the dinner in indifferent silence, only endeavoring to speak when spoken to and to compliment Lady Amanda and Sarek on the suitability of their table. Even T’Pring chose to hold her tongue, greeting Nyota civilly and conversing with Lady Amanda during the meal. In fact, T’Pring was so attentive to Lady Amanda that she spared no notice of Nyota or her relations once the initial introductions were made and the dinner commenced. After the meal, the party retired to the drawing room for conversation and entertainments.

As soon as the party was settled, T’Pring made her way to a large harp-like instrument that stood off to the side of the piano. Selkek and Nyota shared a quick look before T’Pring began to play and sing. Her performance was technically perfect—her pitch and pronunciation of high Vulcan were spot on and her fingers moved nimbly over the strings hitting the appropriate notes. However, the performance lacked any emotion or passion and the human attendees of the impromptu concert soon found themselves bored by the long sonata. When the song finally ended, Nyota and her relatives clapped politely as the Vulcans in the room gave suitably dispassionate compliments on the technical merits of her performance.

“Nyota, I must hear you sing,” Lady Amanda said as T’Pring retook her seat. “I’ve so been looking forward to your performance.”

“Then you shall hear it,” Nyota said as she rose form her seat. “Although I doubt I’ll be able to hit all the notes as precisely as T’Pring.”

T’Pring nodded her head at the compliment. “Humans are as a rule incapable of duplicating the vocal range to adequately perform classical Vulcan pieces. Your inability to achieve technical perfection is merely a deficiency common to your species.”

“Our Nyota sings most beautifully despite any human deficiencies,” Aunt Tonya replied with a tight smile.

“Truly, sister, I do not know how you can hold such a low opinion of Miss Uhura’s abilities,” Selkek spoke up. “You were witness to her performance at the Vulcan embassy where her skill in singing operatic pieces in high Vulcan was noted by many esteemed members of our race.” Selkek turned towards his parents and Ambassador Sarek. “She was invited to perform privately for Lady T’Pau on numerous occasions.”

“As my esteemed kinswoman will herself tell you, the Lady T’Pau is a connoisseur of the arts,” Sarek replied. “If Miss Uhura’s skills met with her approval then logic follows that they must be prodigious indeed.”

Lady Amanda suppressed a giggle at her husband’s joke. Nyota could not help but smile as well as she looked upon the ambassador with astonishment.

“I shall accompany you,” Spock offered as he moved to take his place at the large harp.

Nyota smoothed down her gown as she turned towards him. “Do you know ‘Beyond Antares’?”*

Spock began to strum the opening chords to the Standard song. Nyota smiled as she began to sing.

The skies are green and glowing

Where my heart is,

Where my heart is,

Where the scented lunar flower is growing,

Somewhere beyond the stars, beyond Antares.

I'll be back though it takes forever.

Forever is just a day.

Forever is just another journey.

Tomorrow I'll stop along the way,

Then let the years go fading

Where my heart is,

Where my heart is,

Where my love eternal is waiting,

Somewhere beyond the stars, beyond Antares.

When the final notes faded, Lady Amanda stood and applauded along with Aunt Tonya, Uncle Jomo and even Selkek. Nyota blushed and bowed her head in thanks.

“Oh, that was very lovely. You have such a wonderful voice,” Lady Amanda said as she took both of Nyota’s hands in hers.

“Indeed, your tone and delivery was very pleasing to the ear,” Sarek added.

T’Rena and Tupak added a few words of agreement. T’Pring remained silent, her hands folded primly on her lap and her lips pursed.

“You must promise to sing for us once again,” Lady Amanda continued as she let go of one of Nyota’s hands to take one of her son’s.  “And Spock, your playing was excellent as usual. You must play again. You and Nyota compliment each other perfectly.”

“I concur,” Spock replied.

Nyota’s cheeks grew hotter. She chanced a look at Spock to find his dark gaze locked on her face.

“If Nyota is agreeable, I would be pleased to play for her again.”

“I am agreeable,” she replied somewhat breathlessly before she tore her eyes from Spock. “That is if you will play the piano for us, Lady Amanda.”

Lady Amanda looked between the pair with a pleased smile. She pressed both of their hands.

“How can I refuse with such an inducement?”

Spock escorted his mother to the piano as Uhura took her seat next to her Aunt Tonya.  After Lady Amanda had been playing for a few minutes, the party fell into light conversation. T’Pring turned towards Nyota.

“I am surprised that you did not choose a Vulcan piece, seeing as you are such an appreciator of all things Vulcan.”

Nyota resisted the urge to roll her eyes as she replied. “I felt a Standard song was in order. I did not wish to insult my hosts with my deficient attempt at Vulcan song. However, I will consider singing a Vulcan piece next if it will please you.”

T’Pring continued as if Nyota had not spoken.

“I suppose it is only fitting that you try to learn as many Vulcan customs as possible given your fondness for Vulcan men. You appeared to be well pleased by my brother and even the Ambassador’s son when last we met. I must admit that I was quite surprised to hear that you were also a favorite of Sybok.”

Nyota’s expression hardened. “I am sure that I don’t know what you mean.”

“Sybok? The Ambassador’s eldest son,” T’Pring continued, her voice rising slightly in volume. “I am sure that you are quite anxious to return to him. He is a cadet at Starfleet, is he not?”

Lady Amanda faltered in her playing, her face pale as she looked over towards them. Spock and the Ambassador rose from their seats but Nyota moved quickly to Amanda’s side.

“How rude of me. I beg you to play but do not stay to assist you with the pages.”

Nyota smiled at Lady Amanda before pressing her finger to the console screen to manually advance the pages of sheet music.

“That’s better,” she sighed as Lady Amanda resumed playing. “Computers are lovely but some things are still better done manually.”

As Lady Amanda continued her piece without incident, Nyota looked up from the screen of sheet music to meet the warm gaze of the Commander. She offered him a smile, hoping to communicate her shared appreciation of the woman who sat beside her. Spock nodded as if in understanding.

After Lady Amanda finished playing and receiving the sincere compliments of her friends, Ambassador Sarek stood and turned to his wife. He held out two fingers of his right hand towards her. Lady Amanda smiled as she walked to his side to press two fingers of her left hand to his. Sarek gazed down at his wife briefly before turning to address T’Pring and Selkek’s parents.

“Tupak. T’Rena. Would you please accompany me to my office to discuss a matter of importance?

“Of course, Ambassador,” Tupak replied. His wife nodded her head in consent.

“It is regrettable that I must interrupt our evening,” Sarek continued as he turned towards the Uhuras. “I do not anticipate our meeting lasting for more than twenty Standard minutes. My sa-fu Spock will see to your needs while we are detained.”

Aunt Tonya and Uncle Jomo shared a look of confusion before muttering their understanding. Soon after the Ambassador and his party left the room, Seved appeared in the doorway.

“If you would follow me. The Ambassador has arranged for tea in the west garden.”

Spock strode to Nyota’s side and held out his elbow. “If you would allow me the pleasure.”

Nyota smiled up at him, taking in his chocolate orbs and slightly quirked chartreuse-tinged lips.

“I would be delighted.” She placed her hand gently on his elbow and followed his lead out of the room.

Nyota turned her head in time to catch Selkek offering his arm to his sister. T’Pring glared at him, her thin lips pinched tightly. Selkek only smiled more widely in response.

Spock stood flanked by his parents as he watched the flitter carrying the Uhuras depart from D'H'riset. Long after his father returned to the house, Spock stood watching the flitter depart over the horizon.

“You will meet again with your Miss Uhura,” his mother said.

“It is highly probable that our duties at the Academy will cause ourselves to be in one another’s company again, however briefly.”

Amanda snorted. “I do hope you plan to cross paths with her intentionally. I dare say she is quite well disposed towards you. T’Pring is no longer an obstacle… or rather, she won’t be by the time the new term starts.”

Spock turned his gaze from the horizon to look down at his mother.

“I have every intention of speaking with Miss Uhura again. As to my suit, I intend to wait until a more apropos time. There is still the matter of Starfleet regulations.”

Amanda snorted again. “And when have S'chn T'gai men let rules or customs get in the way of what they wanted?”

Spock quirked one eyebrow. “I do not believe that statement accurately describes the Ambassador. Logic and Vulcan custom has always been his guide.”

Amanda laughed. “Come. I believe you are old enough to hear a few stories about your faultless father.”

Spock’s second eyebrow joined the first. “I find that I am eager yet hesitant to hear what you have to relate.”

Amanda’s grin broadened as she led her son back into the house.

Sybok stumbled off of the lift into the dimly lit hallway of the hotel, the scent of urine and vomit assaulting his nostrils as soon as he set foot on the dingy floor. The hotel was not fit for the mangiest Klingon, but it served Sybok’s purposes well. He was usually too inebriated from chocolate liquor to notice the stained bed sheets he passed out on or the grungy lavatory where he emptied his stomach.  The price was cheap, no one asked for identification and it was conveniently located near the gaming district. Sybok was especially hammered as he had lost very badly at the gaming tables, losing over five thousand credits. Luckily he did not have to pay his Tellerite bookie until tomorrow night. Even luckier, he was due on a Federation space bound transport a few hours after dawn.

As soon as Sybok stepped through the doors of his hotel room, he found himself thrust so heavily against a wall that his skull bounced off the metal surface. His indulgence in chocolate libations left him defenseless against two hulking Orions who began to viscously pummel his face and gut with their fists.

“I think he is loosened up, boys,” a familiar voice called from the shadows.

One of the Orions forced Sybok to his knees as he roughly jerked his head back.

Sybok’s  eyes widened in fear as the man stepped into the dim lamp light.

“Harry,” he spluttered over bloodly lips. “I can explain.”

“That’s Mr. Mudd to you,” the corpulent human replied as he sat down in a chair produced by one of his guards. Harry Mudd leaned forward, staring closely at Sybok as he twirled the end of his moustache.

“You are quite the difficult man to track down, Sybok. I’ve looked in over twenty star systems for your oily green hide. Figures that I should have started with the seediest backwaters first,” Mudd sneered before reclining back in his chair. “Your latest payment is eight months overdue, Sybok. One would think you had no intention of honoring your debts.”

“I just had to go and collect the credits I owed you,” Sybok replied. “I wouldn’t dream of not paying you.”

“Then you have my half-million credits?” Mudd asked as he toyed with a dagger he pulled from his pocket.

“No. But I promise I’ll have them in two weeks.”

“Two weeks. Last time it was two days and then you skipped out of the system,”  Mudd roared, as he jammed the dagger into the arm of his chair.

At Sybok’s wince, Mudd resumed his seat breathing deeply through his nostrils to calm himself.

 “You see, I am a patient man,” he continued in soft tones. “But time costs money, Mr. Sybok. I’ll give you your two weeks and you bring me 1.5 million credits.”

“1.5 million! But I only owe you a third of that,” Sybok growled.

“Compound interest, Sybok. You’re Vulcan. Do the math.”

“I can’t get you that kind of money. That’s insane.”

Mudd lunged forward, grabbing his dagger out of the arm of his chair to press to Sybok’s throat. Sybok whimpered in pain as Mudd cut a thin green line across his flesh.

“That is not what I want to hear, Mr. Sybok!”

Mudd stood abruptly, taking the dagger from Sybok’s neck and wiping the blade clean of emerald blood against Sybok’s cheek.

One of the Orions grabbed Sybok by the neck and hoisted him up against the wall.

“I’ll have my money,” Mudd declared as he pocketed his weapon and moved towards the door. “They pay well for Vulcan slaves on Orion. Some of the nobles of certain tastes prefer their slaves to be durable. With such a pretty face I am sure that you’ll at least fetch 750 thousand credits. My men will enjoy taking the rest out of your sorry hide before we stitch you up and take you to market.”

The large Orion who held him by the neck leaned in and licked the drying blood off of Sybok’s cheek.

“No! You’ll have your money, Mudd. Two weeks. Give me two weeks,” Sybok cried.

Harvey stopped in the doorway. “You already said you couldn’t come up with the money. Why should I allow you to waste more of my time?”

“My family. They are very rich. My father is Sarek of Vulcan. My aunt is Lady T’Pau. I promise you I can get your money.”

Mudd laughed out loud. “You mean to tell me that all of this time I’ve been dealing with a gorram royal?”

Mudd laughed again before taking off his feathered cap and bowing lowly. “Forgive me your highness. I did not know!”

“I swear. Two weeks and you’ll have your money!”

Mudd rose from his bow, all humor erased from his face. He nodded at one of his guards.

“Two weeks,” Mudd replied as one of the Orions pressed a hypospray against Sybok’s neck. “Two weeks before I use the tracker I just put into your blood stream to track you down.”

The Orion released his grip on Sybok’s neck and he fell to the floor coughing.

Mudd crouched down to look him in the eye.

“Count yourself fortunate that I find your latest excuse to be so amusing. Do not disappoint me again, your highness.”

Mudd rose and kicked Sybok hard in the gut before following his men out of the hotel room. Sybok rolled on the dirty carpet in agony, coughing up blood and bile before he passed out.

Glossary

S'chn T'gai: Spock’s family name

 Sa-fu: Vulcan for son

*”Beyond Antares” by Gene Coons