City Center, capital city of New Vulcan

Camels, Vulcans, and foreigners stumbled aside as the Enterprise crew and Vulcan security officers pursued T'ober, struggling to keep her in sight as she ran. Panic lent her strength; shouts of indignation and curiosity rose from the crowd as she shoved people aside.

Coincidence had brought T'voria and her children face-to-face with the Enterprise crew among the downtown crowds taking in the cooler evening air. Nyota explained that T'voria had known T'ober for years and would easily recognize her. "If you see her out here, just whistle," McCoy said. Eager to help, the Vulcan woman had taken the colloquial Standard expression literally. She wouldn't risk her children's safety by joining in the chase, but rocked on her feet excitedly as she watched Vulcan security forces and the Starfleet crew dash into the crowd.

T'ober took advantage of the distraction caused by a skittish camel running loose near a row of parked transport vehicles. As her pursuers avoided the animal's long, kicking legs, she jumped into her own vehicle and sped away.

The crew split up among the transport vehicles driven by Vulcan security officers; everyone obeyed and piled in, and the vehicles blazed down the street. Within a few seconds, Jim somehow managed to convince a young impressionable Vulcan officer to let him drive.

The chain of fleeing and pursuing vehicles rapidly exited the city limits.

McCoy clutched the edge of his seat. "Jim, be careful!"

Jim grinned, energized. "Won't catch her if I'm careful."

Vehicles fell under Jim's command as easily as potential lovers did, and he swerved and weaved in and out of the sparse traffic as though the transport were an extension of him.

Beep. Spock's irritated-sounding voice spoke over the vehicle's comm. System.

"Captain, please slow down. We will attempt a deception. Allow T'ober to believe that she has outrun you. Pull onto the next side road and follow the directions for a shortcut that I am now sending to your vehicle. A Vulcan air transport will take you to the hangar, where other Vulcan security officers are already waiting to stage an ambush. There is only a thirty-nine point nine percent possibility that she will board her ship; if she does so, Sulu will use the deactivation device to stop her. Her state of mind is aggressive and unpredictable, but our plan may work."

"Can't they just shoot, uh, stun her?" wondered McCoy.

After a brief, offended pause, Spock retorted, "Vulcan philosophy advocates nonviolence and a rational response even in situations such as -"

"Never mind, Spock," McCoy grumbled. "The plan's in action. We're taking the alternate road."

...

A private hangar and landing strip

Unincorporated land outside the capital city

New Vulcan

The amber colored light of early evening made the small hangar seem abandoned, until one saw the small spacecraft rolling out onto a pale red stretch of airstrip. T'ober hurried toward the ship, tapping and pressing commands into the device she held with one hand, and trying to hold up her long, fashionably draped skirts with the other hand.

Nyota recognized the spacecraft as the one she'd seen during the ill-fated camel ride on her first day. The ship resembled a displaced fish. An aerodynamic fin curved along its top. It was paneled with silver colored metal, the shine buffed to a dull gleam by dust particles and frequent entries and exits from planetary atmospheres.

As Spock had told Jim, several Vulcan officers had arrived at the hangar before T'Ober. Leaving their vehicles behind an unkempt hedge, they quietly surrounded the building.

The ship stopped moving and T'ober extended the device toward it; its door opened. She shoved the device into her skirt pocket clumsily, as though her hands were unsteady.

"T'sai T'ober," the Chief of Vulcan Security said loudly, "Pekhau. Halt immediately and surrender to Vulcan Security. You have violated criminal codes. Your title does not make you immune from prosecution." He strode forward with three other officers.

T'ober froze, looking around at the officers; then she snapped, "Duhsu (fool)! You forget who I am," and ran towards the open door of the spacecraft.

"Sulu! Disable her ship! This hands-off Vulcan social hierarchy's gonna cost me my Enterprise," shouted Jim.

Sulu tried to set the controls, then frowned down at the device he'd programmed with Thelev's instructions for disabling the spacecraft.

"Either Thelev lied to us about how he programmed this," Sulu said as the ship's engines began to hum, "or this piece of crap's broken. Something's wrong - "

Nyota ran into the gap between T'ober and the ship's open door, her phaser aimed at the other woman.

T'ober smirked and edged closer to the ship. Nyota fired a warning blast at the ground between the ship and T'ober's feet.

"How dare you fire at me! You savage! Do you know who I am, what I am?"

"Yeah, and I'm not impressed. Hands visible, and lie down on the ground."

T'ober bent down as though to comply, then seized a handful of reddish dirt, hurling it in Nyota's direction - an old but effective schoolyard trick. Nyota reacted quickly enough to narrow her eyes in a protective squint, but stones thumped against her chest, upsetting her balance. As she coughed and spit out dust, T'ober knocked her down, snarling abusive words in Vulcan.

Years ago, Nyota's Auntie 'Chelle had overheard Nyota ask her mother about shopping for her first bra, and had quietly joined the discussion to suggest shopping for self-defense classes as well. Auntie 'Chelle insisted that a woman should learn how to fight while lying on the ground. A hint of sadness in the older woman's eyes stopped Nyota from asking "Why on the ground?", but she dutifully took the lessons. As Nyota grew older, she had some unwelcome personal encounters that made it clear why her aunt had looked sad. At Starfleet Academy, Sulu helped her add a few moves to her prone position combat skills.

Combined self-defense training and judo technique worked well on the heavier body of a Vulcan, she was pleased to realize, as she kicked out and pushed with her legs and forearm. T'ober went flying, then sprawling in the red dust.

Unfortunately, Nyota lost her phaser during the scuffle. Wheezing and gasping for air, she rolled over to see T'ober pointing the weapon in her direction, even as the Vulcan officers and Spock rushed near to help.

"Kroykah (stop)!. The Federation will never let you escape," shouted Nyota. She switched from Standard to Vulcan. "Don't dishonor your family's good name."

T'ober struggled to her feet, shrugging her shoulders to move her long, trailing sleeves out of the way. The phaser wobbled in her hand.

Emotion threatened to engulf Spock. He wanted to strike T'ober or unholster his own phaser. His heart pounded in his side as despairing anger pushed away logic.

"T'sai, this violence is not fitting," he managed to say in an uneven voice. His hands clenched and unclenched involuntarily.

"If you won't listen to me, listen to Spock." Nyota appealed to the woman's prejudices. "He is Vulcan."

T'ober sneered. "Spock is not Vulcan enough." She narrowed her eyes at Nyota. "Look at the shabby human trash he took for his mate."

Nyota glanced at the phaser. The Vulcan woman held it awkwardly, a small matter of hand and finger placement. Being ignorant of how to shoot didn't mean that someone couldn't shoot at all; they would just shoot badly.

The ship's engines hummed and buzzed behind her. Sulu cursed loudly, saying something about setting an override. Nyota felt Spock's fear spike higher. In a moment he would reach forward and strike, but if he made the wrong move -

"Thelev screwed this thing up," shouted Sulu; the sound of the Orion's name distracted T'ober. "Override's shot -"

Nyota pushed off from the balls of her feet and sprang at T'ober's legs, bringing her down with a low tackle. She twisted T'ober's wrist to free the phaser, digging the short, rounded edges of her nails press into the other woman's skin. Nyota seized T'ober's skirt, trying to restrict her movements, but T'ober was stronger; she shoved Nyota out of her way and ran for the open door of the ship. Furious, Nyota rashly tried to follow. T'ober stopped long enough to snatch up her shoulder bag and hurl it like a missile. The bag hit Nyota's middle, making her stagger as the contents spilled out.

Frustrated, Nyota snatched up handfuls of loose cosmetics from the dust and hurled them at T'ober. "Take that, my lady," she shouted, aiming tubes and jars at the other woman's head. Ducking, T'ober ran for the ship, grabbing the edge of the open door and pulling herself up and inside.

The ships's propulsion system vibrated and hissed as waves of heat and noise rolled across the airstrip.

"Bad sign, that," Scotty yelled. "Run!"

Spock grabbed Nyota and carried her to safety. Sulu risked a move close to the ship, desperately trying the deactivation code again. Instead of stopping, the ship slowly began a wobbly vertical takeoff. Its door swung fully open as the ship's nose suddenly pointed upward.

Inside the ship, a tube of lipstick that had lodged in the decorative trim of T'ober's long dress worked itself free, rolling beneath her feet. She shrieked as she lost her balance and slid from her standing position at the controls toward the open door, and out into the dust clouds below the ship.

It was heroic of the young Vulcan officers to attempt to break her fall, even if they did not completely succeed. A pained shriek rose from the pile of bodies.

"Move it, y'all!" Dr. McCoy shouted. "That thang's goin' haywire!"

One last time, Sulu tried to shut down both the device and the ship as the Vulcans scrambled to their feet, dragging T'ober with them.

"Damn Thelev, buying bootleg tech," Sulu yelled. He faced the others. "Hit the freakin' deck! The device doesn't freakin' work! Ship's gonna crash!"

Vulcans and humans alike ran, crawled, and stumbled, putting distance between them and the ship.

The ship followed its own wild course, alternately attempting to take off and stop itself from taking flight. Its silvery bulk traveled several meters along the airstrip, responding erratically to scrambled commands. The ship bobbed into the air one last time, spun in a circle, then dropped to the ground like a stone.

No fuel explosion followed; the craft was powered by the dilithium crystals Thelev had conspired with T'ober to steal. However, its metal skin and electrical system had overheated, and it burst into bright flames, illuminating the darkening desert.

Spock pushed Nyota behind him. As the debris fell, he rolled over to face her and clasped her tight against him where they lay in the dirt. His thoughts shifted from relief to guilt to anger, and she felt him struggling again for control. His body felt hotter than it should, even considering his physical exertion. She pressed the bare skin of her hand against the back of his neck, letting him feel her thoughts. I'm safe. Scratched and dirty, but safe with you. Be calm now, we must finish this.

Cautiously, the group emerged from their hiding places. "Is everyone all right?" Jim shouted.

"Prisoner is injured, Osasu Kirk," replied one of the eager young Vulcan officers in imperfect, agitated Standard. "Broken, I think, here - ne-kar (forearm)." he gestured at his forearm.

"Thank you, officer," Kirk replied, and the young Vulcan fleetingly looked proud of himself.

McCoy knelt near T'ober. "Ma'am, I can examine your arm if you'll allow me."

"No. I will wait for a real doctor." T'ober's face was tense with pain and obstinacy.

Spock interrupted, his voice uncommonly harsh. "Doctor McCoy is one of the most experienced xenobiology specialists within the Federation. He is respected by Vulcan doctors for his skill, research and compassion, something you appear to lack. You attacked the Captain of his ship and tried to shoot my adun'a, yet he offers to help you."

A muscle in Spock's jaw twitched as he made a visible effort to calm himself. Worried, Nyota tried to send soothing thoughts across their mental bond.

Spock raged on. "Surak himself would be distressed by your behavior. May I ask precisely what sort of skills you have to offer in a crisis? New Vulcan has a future. I doubt that you will contribute much to it. Isha nash-veh Vuhlkansu. Ri bolau nash-veh (I too am Vulcan. I don't need this)." Spock stalked away.

T'ober was expressionless. Nyota exchanged a glance with McCoy, who shrugged and tried again.

"Ma'am, your injury may be worse than it appears. You don't have to like me, just let me help you."

T'ober turned her head, choosing to suffer in silence. Sighing, McCoy walked away.

The insult wasn't aimed in her direction this time, but it still got under Nyota's skin. "So humans aren't good enough for a titled Vulcan lady to be polite to, but you took an Orion as a lover?"

T'ober gave Nyota a look of disgust. "Do not use that word. Thelev is not my bondmate."

Nyota kept her face expressionless. "Thelev certainly thought he was your mate, in some way. He resisted Federation attempts to get him to reveal your name. You should have seen him."

T'ober looked away. "An Orion is not equal to me."

"Really? Yet he cared enough for you to try to protect you."

"It is not your place to speak of my personal life," T'ober snapped.

Nyota lifted one shoulder in a half-shrug. "Your love life quit being personal the day you chose to hook up with a smuggler and steal assets from a planetary system linked to the Federation." She walked away to join McCoy.

"Are you all right, Len?" Nyota asked in a low voice.

Dr. McCoy shrugged. "It ain't anything I ain't seen before. On earth, there are still people who object to my sitting down to eat at the same table with you and Sulu. Same mess, different planet. I've dealt with harder cases than this Vulcan lady, anyway. Drunks, complainers, angry people...bigots fit right in with that bunch of charmers." He tilted his head in Spock's direction. "Speaking of angry, you might could check on your man; he's a bit tense. I'm gonna give T'ober here three minutes to think things over. Once her arm really starts hurtin' she may change her mind."

It took Nyota a moment to find Spock; he was helping the Vulcan officers and Enterprise men to shovel dirt atop some of the overheated metal fragments scattered on the ground. A few desert dwelling-Vulcans seeking scrap metal to resell wandered close. They left silently after being told that the metal scraps could not yet be taken from the crime scene.

Firefighters from a small Vulcan settlement nearby arrived and dealt with the burning ruins of the ship. Nyota rinsed her eyes and face with bottled water offered by a somewhat awestruck Vulcan security officer.

"This day was most eventful, T'sai Uhura," he said. "I usually deal with thefts of camels or solar panels."

Nyota couldn't suppress her smile. "For the sake of peace and diplomacy on New Vulcan, I do hope that camels and panels are all that you must pursue next week. Thank you again for the water."

Suddenly ill at ease, the young man glanced beyond her shoulder, flushed green, nodded at her, and hurried away. Spock's fingers curved over Nyota's shoulder.

"Adun, stop it," she said, turning to face him. "That officer only gave me water; he was perfectly respectful. There is no reason to be jealous. What's wrong with you?"

Mixed embarrassment and agitation clouded his features. "Forgive me, I am...distressed by all that has happened today."

"I understand, I think. Something else is wrong, isn't it? Let's join the others and try to get away from here safely so that we can sort things out."

"I did not properly protect you," Spock said as they walked together.

"You tried. I saw your hands; you were seconds away from putting a nerve pinch on her. She's just lucky that we didn't fight her together."

"Nyota, it is my duty to protect you. I will not allow myself to behave this way again."

"Sweetheart?" She touched his arm. Spock looked at her, questioning.

"Thanks for being so concerned for me...I appreciate it. I know how worried you were. I should let you know... my phaser was set to stun."

...

Capital city of New Vulcan

Sarek's manor house

Sarek was pleased that he had awoken in time to welcome his dust-streaked houseguests and hear them describe their combined effort with Vulcan security forces. Spock's heated irritation had passed, and he felt keenly aware of his surroundings now. He saw the repressed excitement and amusement in his father's eyes as he listened to Jim, Scotty, Sulu, McCoy, and Nyota explain the pursuit and apprehension.

Once Sarek himself had led an exciting life, even been something of a social rebel. Documents and diplomatic meetings brought different adventures into his life now, one that Sarek handled energetically and well. However, he couldn't help but wonder if the older man envisioned himself running and driving and fighting and ducking the blast of flame from an exploding ship. Adrenalin wasn't reserved for young bodies.

"Do you think Thelev set the disrupt device that way on purpose? Was he angry enough at T'ober to try to kill her by crashing that ship?" Sulu mused.

"Maybe. He probably wouldn't admit it," McCoy said. "Those two know as little about love as they do about crime; they ain't good at either one. Compared to their relationship, my divorce looked like a backyard barbeque."

"What puzzles me is this," Scotty said. "She thought an Orion was good enough for her - even if she was using him for hire purchase - but looked down her high and mighty nose at our Spock and our Nyota. Her own fellow wasn't Vulcan. 'Tis illogical, if you'll pardon the expression."

Spock brushed the back of his hand against Nyota's.

"Thelev was not human, Mr. Scott," he replied. "Perhaps that was most important to the suspect."

"I go for a nice pair of legs and good conversation meself," sighed Scotty. "Tae each their own."

"Sir, just how much trouble are we in, if any?" Jim asked Sarek.

"Captain Kirk, you worked alongside Vulcan security while some of the most important incidents took place. All of you have given recorded statements to law enforcement. Without your help, the attack on Gav, who is still hospitalized but stable, would remain unsolved. I might be standing trial myself for his assault. I ask only that you extend your visit by one Standard day in order to make your planned presentation at the Vulcan Parliament before returning to the Enterprise. No one expects you to remain on New Vulcan for the trial of either T'ober or Thelev."

Sarek raised an eyebrow."There will, no doubt, be questions about your collective decision to investigate this situation independent of local law enforcement; however, I understand that some among Vulcan security favor Starfleet and the Federation. It is unlikely that you will encounter criminal charges or even a caution, as your efforts led to the apprehension of two criminals. As I see it, you are now free to move about on New Vulcan without fear of reprisal." He rose. "If you will excuse me, I believe that I have had sufficient vicarious excitement for one evening, and shall retire. Thank you gentlemen, and my ko-fu (daughter), Nyota. I have a most accomplished and unusual daughter-in-law."

Suddenly bashful, Nyota ducked her head. "Thank you, sa-mekh (father) Sarek."

"Please feel free to rest and make yourselves comfortable in this house," Sarek said to crew. "Perhaps a quiet evening will ease the strains of the day."

"Er, I was thinking of taking a good shower and going out, actually," Jim said.

"I had the same idea," admitted Sulu. He nodded at McCoy and Scotty. "Guys?"

"Yep."

"Aye."

Jim looked at Sarek. "Hope it doesn't seem inappropriate, sir, but we worked up a lot of energy today..."

Sarek allowed a half-smile to show on his face. "Understood. I was once a young man myself. I could ask my valet Sietla to accompany you, in case there are any questions about Vulcan social decorum."

Spock felt Nyota's thoughts flutter across their bond as she tried to suppress a laugh, followed by the thought that Sietla might very well find himself spending much of the evening alone.

"Uh, that's so kind of you, Sarek, thank you. Spock, Uhura, do you have plans?'

Spock flushed slightly green. His father looked at him with a facial expression readable as Have you told her yet?

"Nyota and I..." he turned his head and happily took in her shy, affectionate smile. "will remain here."

"Very well. Stay safe, gentlemen. Good night," Sarek said dryly, and left.

"Good plan, you two! Nothing like catching up on all the sleep you've missed." Jim said innocently.

Spock glared at Jim, who flashed his most charming version of the Kirk Smile at Nyota and touched his lips to her knuckles. "I only kissed her hand, Spock. The rest, I leave to you."

The growl that came from Spock was low, but audible; he caught himself and silenced it.

...

Spock and Nyota's guest suite

Sarek's manor house

Nyota soaped, scrubbed and rinsed herself happily. She tried to be careful to use only as much water as she needed, but the calm, steamy atmosphere and the soft blue and green painted walls of the high-ceilinged bathing room transported her far from the fears and anxieties of the past week. She lingered under the solar-heated water in the shower longer than usual.

Spock had retreated elsewhere in the house to bathe. He had been pensive and almost moody much of the evening.

Clad in a thin robe made from a silky, dark rose colored fabric, Nyota found their bedroom empty. Perhaps Spock wanted to be alone and meditate.

She sighed and paced between the balcony and the bedroom, wondering what had happened to her marriage. She stared at gathering storm clouds, feeling the night air grow moist and humid. I must reassure him somehow. He knows that there will be many times when he cannot protect me.

Spock entered the room, a towel knotted at his waist. Traces of water swirled abstract patterns into the damp hair on his chest, arms, and legs. He hadn't combed his hair yet, and it was still wet and unruly.

"You hair looks so cute when it's untidy like that," Nyota said. "It makes me want to play with it."

"I would find it agreeable if you will play with the rest of me as well. " He smiled, and the atmosphere in the room changed; Nyota felt her skin prickle as she gazed into his dark eyes.

"You meditated...?" she asked.

"Completed. I took a brief time to put my thoughts in order, and then took a shower. I chose to complete this thinking time in solitude. I do not desire additional solitude."

"The house is secure?"

Spock took a step closer. "Affirmative. All perimeter entrances are secure. Our own balcony is inaccessible from the street. My sa-mekh (father) sleeps. The crew left for the city center accompanied by Sietla. "

"We're all alone, then?"

His dark eyes gleamed. "Indeed."

Spock leaned down and kissed her deeply, pulling her close to him. He lifted her as her legs wrapped around his waist. She kept kissing him and stroking her fingers though his wet hair. The walls and room seemed to tilt as he moved her legs safely aside and fell back onto the bed.

Lying down in the same bed with her bondmate again - how luxurious it felt, almost miraculous! Nyota submitted to her desire to touch him.

Spock's body had areas of wilderness beneath his immaculately kept uniform and smooth haircut. Nyota loved exploring the powerful landscape of his body. The slightly wiry hair on his chest, arms, and legs parted between her eagerly moving fingers and bent beneath her lips. She moved so that she could stroke his back. Little constellations of moles danced in irregular, illogical patterns from his shoulders to his tailbone. It was good to touch his bare skin again, to feel his warmth and flexing muscles -

"How I've missed this," she groaned. "Touching you. Your heat, your smell, your weight in the bed." She lay beside him and curved her leg over his hip. "I wasn't sure how you were feeling, so I left you alone."

Spock gently nipped her neck with his teeth, then kissed the spot. "I do not wish to be 'left alone' by you, tal-kam. "

"We have a week of leave time left. Can't we make the best of it? Be good to each other again?" She gently pressed her pelvis to his and kissed him, but he clasped one hand around her hip and held it still. Hurt, she blinked at him in confusion.

He looked at her seriously. "Please do not think I reject you, Nyota. I regret not telling you this earlier. The Enterprise was under threat and I was uncertain how you might respond."

She stroked his forehead and hair, feeling him relax. "Sweetheart, what's troubling you?"

"My Pon Farr will begin soon." She gasped softly, and he continued.

"Already I have experienced symptoms. Before we married, I told you of my previous experience with it, and how I meditated to survive. This time, my Pon Farr seems different. My body seems to acknowledge your presence as my bondmate and prepares me for physical contact with you. It is likely that I cannot meditate my way through it this time; I need you."

Nyota's hand stilled. For a moment, it seemed as though the bed beneath them had dropped away; the pit of her stomach dipped in an odd sensation suggestive of airborne turbulence. Fear crept in, was swept away by curiosity, and then replaced by a sense of determination...and passion.

The intensity of her desire made Spock's eyes widen. "Nyota! I thought that you would be frightened."

"I am frightened," she admitted, "but I want to help you - us - to survive this together. Beyond all of that, I want you. It's been too long and if we're going to spend several days having each other, over and over again...why would I complain? I get to spend my next few days of leave time having my way with my husband, whom I adore. Oh, it's such a hardship," she said, rolling her eyes dramatically.

Finally, he smiled, then grew serious again. "Ashayam, you may not fully understand the difficulties we face. My demands upon your body and emotions will be relentless. I may be loud. I may be rough."

He trailed his fingers along her neck, over the curve of her shoulder, down her arm.

"I will not always think or behave logically. Sometimes I may insist upon having intercourse with you repeatedly, several times in a row."

"You know very well that I am loud and rough sometimes. Nobody knows just how much I enjoy sex except you, and I'm happy with that. As for the repeated intercourse, hey, I'll manage. I may just ask to change positions each time. We'll face this challenge together. I knew what I was getting into when we decided to bond."

"I fear that I will injure you," he said sadly.

"So we can be careful, and I'll arrange a way to call for help if necessary. Or I could restrain you until you calm down."

Spock's eyes widened and he inhaled quickly, then tried to control his expression. "Oh, no, you don't. I saw that, mister. You want me to restrain you, don't you?"

Blushing green, Spock bit his full bottom lip, almost shyly. "Yes."

"We haven't done that in a long time," she whispered, pulling lightly on his chest hair.

"Indeed we have not...mistress." His eyes half-closed with pleasure.

Nyota shivered. "Nor have we done the opposite for a while...Commander."

Spock's eyes opened, and he smiled as he squeezed her thigh, hard. "How kind of you to remind me." He sighed. "I know that you want me, but if we begin intercourse now I may not be able to stop myself."

"Oh, Spock, no." Nyota was tired, but she wanted her man.

"Please listen, ashayam. Perhaps it seems immature, but I prefer to have my Ponn Farr away from my father's house. It is essential that I secure a place where we can be alone for at least four days. In my estimation, we should prepare to sequester ourselves within the next twenty-four hours."

...